In 1890 Konrad Korzeniowski, a young man from Poland, took a steamer boat up the Congo River in Africa. The Congo was at that time being viciously exploited by the king of Belgium, Leopold II, who condoned policies that led to much brutality, motivated by greed for African resources, mostly rubber. Rubber was in high demand worldwide due to the advent of automobiles, bicycles, and various industrial needs. The African rubber trade was extremely profitable for Leopold, mainly because virtual slave labor was used to obtain it. Troubled by what he had seen in the Congo, Korzeniowski later changed his name to Joseph Conrad, and wrote a novel, "Heart of Darkness" based on his Congo experiences. This novel inspired Apocalypse Now, including it's pivotal character, (COL) Kurtz.

Film

Nessun dato in archivio