- hearts and minds? Archived Message
Posted by Subhi
on May 17, 2020, 1:50 pm, in reply to "New blog posting, if I may..."
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Hearts and Minds Directed by Peter Davis Are the Taliban the Viet Cong de nos jours... "A definitive anti-war documentary which won an Academy Award in 1974 and has been restored for release in theaters. Hearts and Minds won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1974 and has just been restored for a theatrical release. It is perfect timing as the new President and Congress think about closing down the war in Iraq and moving on to the challenges of fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. It is high time for Americans to learn from the past and especially from the terrible slaughter, high cost, and egregious errors of the Vietnam War. This riveting documentary mixes newsreel footage with material shot in Vietnam, America, and France; scenes from Hollywood movies; and interviews with policy makers, civilians, soldiers, and veterans of the war. Davis begins with an interview with Clark Clifford, the former Secretary of Defense, about the rise of America as a super-power following World War II. An intoxicating lust for control and dominance around the globe led America to military adventures in many countries including Vietnam. Throughout the documentary, the filmmaker emphasizes the U.S. obsession with victory and winning over its opponents. Another theme is the militarization of American culture where generals and soldiers alike stress superiority over enemies. This comes across vividly in derogatory remarks made by General Westmoreland about the Oriental lack of respect for life and in the comments made by Lieutenant George Coker, a former prisoner of war and hero in 1973, who, answers a school girl's question "What does Vietnam look like?" with "If it wasn't for the people, it was very pretty. They just make a mess of everything." https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/18875 |