berto
Posts: 20708
Joined: 3/13/2002 From: metro Chicago, Illinois, USA Status: offline
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After slogging through watching the full 18-hour cut of the Burns/Novick documentary The Vietnam War, I can say ... It was fairly even handed, a bit slanted, but closer to 50-50 than to 60-40 or worse. Except for one sainted politician (no, I don't mean JFK, who got his share of criticism, albeit with punches pulled), the virtues and faults of all participants, all sides were on display. There was, inescapably, an asymmetry of treatment, because on one side you had open, free societies (with a free press, freedom to protest, etc.) and on the other totalitarian societies (with absolute control of the media, having the ability and will to incarcerate dissidents, etc.). So although the sins of one side were covered at great length in commentary, film, still pictures, and music, the faults of the other side were usually mentioned briefly, in words, in passing only. (Several North Vietnamese said they might yet get in trouble for speaking so freely about their bad stuff.) Still, those faults were mentioned, if not dwelled upon. Give the documentary makers credit for that. (About the 10-hour international cut, I expect they left out footage and details about U.S. domestic politics, and many of the talking head commentaries.) Unavoidably, lots of politics of course, but more air time was given to the conflict and the experiences of the ordinary fighting men and women and their leaders. Well worth a watch. Engrossing. Highly recommended.
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