Review – Hearts and Minds

Funny how political polemic in a documentary can change audience perceptions over the course of three decades. Or in simpler terms, this movie must have looked a lot different to audiences in 1974 than it does now. Of course the Iraq mess we’re in as I write this review adds a little chill to one veteran’s observation that we aren’t going to learn anything from the fiasco that was Vietnam. However, taken within its own context this is an interesting production about the many aspects of U.S. involvement in Vietnam in the late 60s and early 70s. The editing clearly reveals this as an anti-war piece; for example, Westmoreland’s assertion that Asian people don’t feel emotional loss the way Americans do is juxtaposed with post-bombing footage of Vietnamese civilians proving him oh so very wrong. But political agenda set aside, this movie has some genuinely extraordinary footage and serves as a fascinating portrait of a moment in U.S. history. Worth seeing