Friday, January 13, 2012

Watch This Film: Hearts and Minds (1974)


Made as the conflict was still churning on, Hearts and Minds is the definitive filmic statement on the Vietnam War.  A deftly edited collection of interviews and footage, watch this and the folly of war becomes all too apparent.  Filmmaker Peter Davis was celebrated and loathed for his work and one can't help but cringe at the callousness of many of the high-ranking officials in the film.  Maybe the worst of the batch, General Westmoreland (the US Chief of Staff at that time) infamously and appallingly states on camera that "the Oriental doesn't put the same high price on life as does a Westerner. Life is plentiful. Life is cheap in the Orient."

If you have an hour and fifty-two minutes of free time, I implore you to give it a viewing:

5 comments:

Capenwray said...

I got through an hour. I'll try to finish it soon. Heavy stuff. It's good to see Daniel Ellsberg though.

Carol said...

It just so happens we have this movie and I watched it right after I got back from Vietnam.

Jeff Gibbs said...

I agree...fantastic film....

Robert Tran said...

"In the year of The Pig" is also very good.

Unknown said...

Mr.Tran: Thanks for the recommendation. Just finished the film. A great one indeed.