PARIS -- While U.S. reporters were restricted by American authorities from covering the invasion of Grenada, the French public watched a film of the fighting on television Sunday night and today.
French photographer Michel Parbot filmed the invasion and the fighting that followed for the French state-owned second TV channel and the Sygma photo agency.
The film showed U.S. helicopters at dawn Oct. 25 bombing the Grenadian prime minister's home. The helicopters were protected by jet fighters.
Later Parbot filmed the ruined building, parts of the capital of St. George's in flames and the ruins of a crashed U.S. helicopter.
'These are the same things as in Vietnam but now they're in Grenada,' said a Grenadian youth who was shown viewing the wreckage with another youth.
During the hourlong film one U.S. helicopter landed to evacuate the wounded. Later a wounded Marine was shown in a truck, his face covered with blood, while medical personnel rushed to aid him.
A Grenadian doctor named Raul said he could not get to the hospital because he was blocked by Cuban soldiers. He said they told him they had been ordered not to shoot unless attacked.
The third day after the invasion, the Marines captured the airport and slowly and cautiously moved into the city and surrounding area, with Parbot's camera accompanying them all the way.
The film shows Marines eating rations, sitting exhausted by the roadside, cursing in four letter words, searching homes and arresting some Grenadians and Cubans.
The final shots depict the evacuation of American students on the island. Drinking Coca-Cola and throwing their duffle bags into a truck, the students described the fighting they witnessed.
