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Summary: Tears at your heart -- and mind
Review: I first saw this movie in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1975, on or just after the day that Saigon fell. A couple years ago I found and bought a VHS copy of this movie, and thus saw it again for the first time in 25 years. Now the DVD. After having only viewed my full-frame washed-out-color VHS copy, the bright-color, sharp-focus 1.85:1 DVD edition is like watching it for the first time.One could argue against this film that the events in Vietnam and SE Asia after our pullout fully justified our fears of what would or could happen if S. Vietnam fell to the Communists. One could argue in favor of this film that Robert McNamara's recent revelations prove they knew that the war couldn't be won and wouldn't be won, yet continued to deceive the American people anyway. One could argue and continue to argue both sides re: Vietnam -- and people likely will do so, and this movie will surely help them. The Director's commentary is enlightening, e.g., where he explains how Westmoreland's comments re: Asians viewing life cheaply were NOT taken out of context -- indeed, Westmoreland stated the same thing 3 times during the interview -- and why Davis (the director) placed this shot in the film where he did. The 40-page or so booklet is really great, too, and explains much. I just loaned it to a friend who likes historical documentaries, but knows zip re: Vietnam (he's in his mid-20's). I fully expect HEARTS AND MINDS to blow him away! Get the DVD, even if you have to pay full price.
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Summary: A Great Lesson in Agenda Driven Filmmaking
Review: I had my 20 students in a History of Documentary Film class view this film recently and it provoked an intense discussion. Viewed from the perspective of it being 25 years later, this film seems to obscure a very valid viewpoint of the war (that I shared at the time and still do today) through a very biased selection of footage and editing choices that made me often cringe. So I thought it was a great lesson for the students in how a director and editor can cut material together to advance a predetermined viewpoint. What I found most disturbing was the way the film mostly dehumanized our soldiers who fought this war, soldiers who were mostly from lower socio-economic families who were not able to avoid service the way that many of us from more affluent familes were. And it detracts from some of the amazing interview footage that is included, particularly Gen. Westmoreland's statement about Asian cultures not valuing life the way western cultures do. The brothel footage, the high school football scenes and small town parades all seem included to indict American culture as much as if not moreso than our political leaders over that 25 year period. And there is no pretense of balance. And again the irony is that the film did not need to do this in the way that it did. That it was honored as "Best Documentary" seems historically more because of its politcal content rather than because it's a "great film." However, it was a great film for students to see because it is such a great example of selective editing with biased intent. And it made for a great discussion about both Vietnam and ethics in media.
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Summary: Where Did the Angry Young Warriors Go?
Review: I had the opportunity to be with one of the angry young warriors featured in this documentary when he was hurt on June 29, 1966. It is amazing to watch him as this documentary played out, and to then realize that after that difficult period, this angry young African American amputee became a parent of five, and a counselor for a generation of youth from the inner city of Detroit. The experience of all who made the walk in Vietnam was life-changing and often truly traumatic. However, one should pause and reflect - where did they all go afterwards? In the case of William Marshall, he overcame his anger (or at least recognized his anger and put it to constructive work) and became a great asset to the city of Detroit. As you watch this great film, I would challenge you to realize that some are able to use these tragedies to recover, rebuild and pass on personal character, and obviously, some are not. It has been 31-plus years since Charlie Morris (deceased Medal of Honor winner from that same day) along with 41 other young men including myself, walked and fought with William; but it is people like him who make America an interesting mix of people and greatness. I wonder where all the other hurt and angry young warriors from this doumentary went in their own journies after Vietnam. And I also wonder where the children in Vietnam went in their journey through life - such as the very young boy saying goodbye to his father. Truly a thought-provoking walk down a memory lane. An anonymous warrior from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 173d Airborne Brigade - 1966
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Summary: The Country Needs This Video Back in Print!
Review: I had the opportunity to see this film for the first time while enrolled in a Documentary film class at Boston University during the year 1979. It absolutely blew me away. Years later, the cold hard facts about world politics and the strange rational for the use of force still apply. For those who still are searching for the reasons why so many gave their lives, this film will truly wake you up! Financed in part by a major motion picture studio, the director came back with a truthful story that the studio did not want to release. Get this film back in print!
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Summary: Stunning, brilliantly directed
Review: I originally bought a copy in Toronto in 1994, lent it to someone and it disappeared. The way the war is viewed from the Vietnamese side, and juxtaposed with the gung-ho approach of the Americans is very poignantly presented by interviews only, with no narrative. Truely documentary at it's best and most difficult to produce. Where can I get a replacement?
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Summary: the reality of war
Review: I saw this a few days before we invaded Iraq, and it shocked me. I am angry that this film was never shown to me when I was in high school and studying the Vietnam period: it drives home the terrible effects of war in a professional but searing manner. Much of the film allows video from the times to stand without commentary. Some of the most iconic scenes -- that we mostly know from photographs -- are in this documentary on video, including the street execution by Nguyen Ngoc Loan. What strikes you over and over again is the horrific brutality that accompanies even the actions of the "good" when ordinary people are sent into war. If more of "us" -- young people who grew up after Vietnam ended -- had seen this, perhaps we would have been less willing to support the current war. If you are a high school teacher, you should show this film to your students. There are some sexually explicit parts -- depicting the sexual exploitation of women during the war -- but you can skip over them if you wish. If you are a high school student, you should see this for yourself, although some prior knowledge of the chronology of the war would be helpful.
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Summary: Must see this video
Review: I saw this documentary in a movie theatre when it was first released and hope that the studio re-releases it. It should be viewed by all generations that didn't experience the Vietnam War.
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Summary: Bold for Its Day
Review: I saw this film as part of a high school film course in the 1976 and have never forgotten it. What must be remembered is that very little truthful filmmaking about Vietnam was happening at that time, so its frankness was much more effective and disturbing then than it appears now. One of my personal 10 best.
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Summary: Help
Review: I was a helicopter pilot during the 1968 Tet Offensive
There was photos taken of several helicopters landing troops on top of the embassy. I have not seen the movie, so I would like to know from anyone who has seen the movie if it shows the troops being landed on the rooftop. This photo will be placed on our website for the 101st Airborne Division to honor all pilots/crewmembers/troops who participated. Thank you
Milo Overstreet [...]
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Summary: Best Possible 2 Hour Course on the Viet Nam War
Review: I'm not sure how manytimes I've viewed this documentary. 25? 30? Every time I teach my course on the Viet Nam war, showing Hearts & Minds is the 1st thing I do. Somewhere in the course, I ask students whether it gives a balanced picture of the war or whether it is anit-war. The debate always is lively and classes tend to be somewhat evenly divided. Without question, this is one of the very best documentaries ever made. If someone wants to learn about the war in Viet Nam and can devote only two hours, seeing this docmentary is not the best, it is the only thing to do. Regarding the reviewer who argues for editing it to shorten, reorganize and omit the nudity, I could not disagree more. Students sit spell bound for the full two hours, then ask to view it again. The redundancy, such as it is, is minimal as well as valuable. The scenes with the prostitutes are important because they show how we dehumanized the people; women in particular were seen by many as little more than pieces of meat. This wasn't just the American soldiers, but the institutional mindset of the nation which flowed from President Johnson through Mr. McNamara and General Westmoreland down to the buck private grunt. Systematic dehumanization of the Vietnamese people was a very real part of what happened there; and therefore, important for the documentary to show. We took a people who were very hard working, moral people and turned them into a nation of beggars and prostitutes. Anyone who knows anything about Vietnamese culture knows how strong their social mores were against both. The Vietnamese people were a highly ethical people, with a rich history and culture which we totally ignored and damn near totally destroyed. I say these things not just as an academician, but as a combat veteran of the war who served as an advisor to a rifle company of the Vietnamese Airborne. I lived with these people, fought beside them and against them, for my entire tour; and I came to respect them, admire them, and love them. Those who call for the reissue of this documentary are absolutely correct. My copy is old and almost worn out.
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