Coppola's crew known as "Street Gang" and all our jungle friends are on a quest to escape their mundane lives.  In following their own wills and implementing orders of an evil C.O., they're confronted at the end with the very thing from which they're attempting to escape.  That is why Willard turns from a future in an Ohio factory, yet returns to Ohio in memory with Kurtz.  Willard's actions to "put others out of their misery" are projections regarding his own life. 

Attempting to self-actualize via the mission, Willard eventually forfeits himself and becomes one with the idol.  Likewise, Lance goes from riding crests to following in the wake in a brilliant line of demarcation into madness.  Chef throws away his dream when he disagrees with the French preparation of prime rib in Culinary School, only to wind up eating spam on a pontoon boat practically christened "canned meat", and ravenously eats his last supper at the French plantation.

Colonel Kurtz is presented as a Christ-like character as he is persecuted, accused, betrayed, baptized, surrounded by sacrificial altars and a hanging Judas. He's loved by the common people, stands silent and defenseless as he's killed, and to many, once he's out of sight, he's out of mind.  Yet in his humanity, Kurtz is never able to achieve freedom from intolerable judgment. 

It is spirit that begets form.  What we create is a reflection of our spirit and takes form not only in the finished product, but in our lives.  This classic is released afresh to remind us that we are still intact and we have a choice that resides in that sacred place where wills collide. 

Discussion follows screening, led by Craig Detweiler.