Ironmonger
Brownlow Medallist
- Aug 13, 2001
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A few episodes in to Ken Burns's "The Vietnam War". Absolutely exceptional documentary making. The level of depth and insight is remarkable from multiple perspectives including the North Vietnamese. There is so much we just don't understand about that war, partly because the way is was reported in the West at the time was propaganda on a grand scale, and partly because public sentiment turned so harshly towards the war and anyone involved in it at the end that soldiers never felt comfortable telling their stories in a way that the much more lauded soldiers of WW2 were able to.
What a heartwrenchingly stupid, futile and unnecessary conflict, rotten to the core with colonialism, empire, dishonesty and dirty politics. Terrifyingly relevant today with increased tension between the US and North Korea with two absolutely insane megalomaniacs at the helm.
Can't recommend the series enough. Up there with Burns's "Civil War" series which I don't say lightly as that was absolute landmark television.
Starts on SBS tonight.
Presumably on SBS on demand after that. Great content but it's a shame that service is so bad.