Reviewer's Rating 4 out of 5 Ìý
Hearts And Minds (1974)
15Contains strong language, violence and a moderate sex scene

Long before Fahrenheit 9/11, there was Hearts And Minds. A controversial winner at the 1975 Oscars, it's perhaps the most famous anti-war documentary ever made, examining the physical and mental cost of America's involvement in Vietnam. Viewed 30 years on, it feels horribly relevant to the current climate. Although director Peter Davis doesn't use narration or humour, his technique can seem as manipulative as Michael Moore's. Yet it's impossible to deny the film's cultural importance and tragic power.

While there's no voice-over, we hear from a variety of commentators, ranging from American veterans and Vietnamese victims to parents and politicians. Davis also uses film excerpts and newsreel footage, including the address from President Johnson that gave the movie its name: "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there."

"IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO FEEL IT'S PUNCH TO THE GUT"

From the way all this raw footage is edited together, it's often evident that Davis' foremost target is viewers' hearts rather than their minds. Perhaps the most provocative example is the cut from Vietnamese villagers grieving inconsolably, to a US general calmly stating that Orientals "don't put the same high price on life" as their Western counterparts.

Though you could accuse the film of being heavy-handed at moments like this, it's impossible not to feel its punch to the gut. And besides, for the most part the footage literally speaks for itself: "We weren't on the wrong side," offers one veteran. "We were the wrong side."

End Credits

Director: Peter Davis

Stars: Georges Bidault, Clark Clifford, George Coker, Kay Dvorshock, Daniel Ellsberg

Genre: Documentary, Classic

Length: 112 minutes

Original: 1974

Cinema: 11 November 2005

Country: USA

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