Posted on 12/10/2005 4:21:52 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine's brother
Vietnam Veterans Bare Their Souls In a Searing '72 Documentary
See "Winter Soldier."
This extraordinary documentary, made in 1972 and having its first theatrical release, not only revisits events during the Vietnam War that have uncanny resonance today but also stands as a riveting example of pure filmic storytelling. An unadorned, black-and-white record of a three-day gathering held in Detroit in 1971, "Winter Soldier" turns the camera on the testimony of former soldiers invited by Vietnam Veterans Against the War to share accounts of atrocities they committed or witnessed. The result is a spellbinding film that achieves impressive power through little more than the spoken word. ..... Recreational killing of civilians, rape, arson, torture: They did it, or saw it, all. Having been trained to see their enemies as less than human -- they were always called gooks or commies -- and having been taught to dissociate from the violence they were committing lest they be killed themselves, they simply learned not to care.
......."Winter Soldier" is an important historical document, an eerily prescient antiwar plea and a dazzling example of filmmaking at its most iconographically potent. But at its best, it is the eloquent, unforgettable tale of profound moral reckoning. Winter Soldier (95 minutes, at Landmark's E Street Cinema) is not rated.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I presume this is a rhetorical question.
Yes it is. But now we have the evidence that they were all liars, and steve pitkin.s (not sure of the name) Statement he releaded last year of how he was coaxed by kerry to tell those lies.
"released"
I bet this WP "writer" was not even born in 1972.
If this gets wide release, it will hurt the anti-WOT crowd. It will open discussion of the whole issue of the war in SE Asia. It may even help to reclaim recognition of the valor of Americans who did go to fight in the '60s and '70s.
The hippies in this film will be viewed with the same gravitas as disco dancers. Only Air America listeners will ally themselves with Winter Soldier, further marginalizing the anti-WOT crowd from mainstream sentiment in the US.
It's the end of the world as we know it...I feel fine...
I see I duped a post, although I get partial credit for the Hanoi Jane article.
I know that one of the men who testified at the Winter Soldier trials came forth in the Fall of 2004 to say that he made everything up because he needed a ride back home and was not going to get one unless he spoke out against the War. I know that he was in Washington and spoke at the Veterans Rally against J F'ing K. I know that he is a featured player in this film.
They are becoming parodies of themselves now. Withthe 2004 election, American deomstrated they arent into the Viet Nam Protest era anymore. They have also demonstrated that they are sick of the left bashing the troops..
The Swiftvets (just as john O'Neil did last when Kerry called our troops terrorists) and all the rest of us veterans will come out of the woodwork to set the record straight on any proaganda piece that they may have planned.
Semper Fi'
JarheadFromFlorida
That's the crux of the problem isn't it? She thinks this is a documentary and not a propaganda hit piece. Just as all the innocents who view this will also think. There is no counter arguement; no identification of the cast of characters other who they claim to be.
......."Winter Soldier" is an important historical document, …
If this gets any publicity at all, beyond a few fringe theaters, I believe that Vietnam vets and their families will speak out. The left do no own the media any longer, and many Vietnam veterans are grandparents, retired, and have motive, time and energy to speak up.
Time to send money to the Swift Boat Vets again, I guess.
This review was changed by the post. At the link here, you can see that you can review the film yourself. At first, when I posted my thread, many freepers did review...and then the spies got into it and started their lying reviews. The review you posted has been changed! Check it out.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1113494&lat=200.0&lon=200.0&displaySearchLocation=&nm=1&categories=Movies
It will come as a surprise to most filmgoers that they've been waiting 30 years to see "Winter Soldier." But now that they have the chance, they won't want to miss it. This extraordinary documentary, having its first theatrical release, not only revisits events during the Vietnam War that have uncanny resonance today but also stands as a riveting example of pure filmic storytelling. An unadorned, black-and-white record of a three-day gathering in Detroit in 1971, "Winter
http://www.wintersoldierfilm.com/upcoming.html
It seems like The distributors only have one copy of the film. It is certainly not opening "wide."
That's the whole point, it SHOULD NOT get any publicity at all because it's been proven a fabrication.
Its designed to criminalize our veterans, and disrespect todays troops. They trying to project these fabricated "atrocities" of Viet Nam and project them onto todays soldiers, criminalize them and eventually cause a withdrawal of troops from Iraq. It's slanderous, a smear, and TREASONOUS. They want to cause another Fulbright hearing.
For once, I am truly without comment.
The time to have this discussion was during the election. We tried. Well, the Swifties tried, all I had to offer was my support.
The Swifites were treated like trash, not even being worthy of debate. We witnessed leftist meltdown more than once regarding this issue. The best they could do was say"Liar, liar pants on fire."
Well, now we are at war and it seems the Washington Post thinks it is time to have the debate.
Swear alert--
Bullshit, assholes each and everyone of them.
Well, I say bring it on. Let's air this out once and for all. When the dust settles, the left will be in for a shock when they realize who is still standing tall.
Jane Fonda has made a living trashing our country. Lets call her what she is, a prostitute who sells to the highest bidder. Her last customer was that nutcase Ted Turner. She is on the prowl for another cash customer.
It is not getting much publicity. From this release about the film, it has been screened at selected locales since August. Obviously not a boffo success.
http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_050728mill.html
From the "Biz" Archives:
Doros and Heller Set Release of "Winter Soldier" to Launch New Company, Milliarium Zero
by Eugene Hernandez
Milestone Film co-founders Dennis Doros and Amy Heller have formed Milliarium Zero, a new film distribution company that will handle films with strong social and political content. First up for the new outfit is "Winter Soldier," a look at the 1971 Winter Solider Investigation conducted by activist group, Vietnam Veterans Against The War. The film was made by a collective of filmmakers who worked together to create the rarely seen documentary.
The name for Doros and Heller's new outlet translates as "zero milepost," named for the official landmark opposite the White House in Washington D.C. "Winter Soldier" will open for a week run at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater on August 12th, followed that night by a panel featuring 10 filmmakers and at least five of the soldiers.
In creating "Winter Soldier," a group of filmmakers, calling themselves 'Winterfilm,' worked to document the testimonies of many veterans. Included in the collective are Fred Aronow, Nancy Baker, Rhetta Barron, Robert Fiore, David Gillis, David Grubin, Barbara Jarvis, Barbara Kopple, Michael Lesser, Lee Osborne, Lucy Massie Phenix, Roger Phenix, Benay Rubenstein and Michael Weil. The filmmakers worked over four days and nights, with donated equipment and film stock, to shoot footage of more than 125 veterans, among them a young John Kerry. The footage was edited over eight months to create the 95-minute movie. Screened in Cannes and Berlin, including a brief run at Cinema 2 in Manhattan, the film failed to get a TV broadcast and has been rarely seen since.
"We thought that 'Winter Soldier' gave us the perfect opportunity to start a brand-new venture that had its own identity -- a company that could take risks on powerful and possibly controversial films," explained Milliarium co-founder Dennis Doros in an email conversation with indieWIRE. "We are disturbed by the lack of discourse in the United States -- caused, perhaps, by a general lack of commitment and passion, anxiety about being in a minority, fear of our own government, and feelings of apathy and paranoia." Continuing he added, "There are brave filmmakers and distributors out there who are trying to make a difference and we want Milliarium to be part of this effort."
After the run in New York, Doros and Heller have booked the movie at a number of other venues, including Minnesota Film Arts in Minneapolis and the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago for a week in mid-September, a night each at the Avalon in Stamford, CT and the Detroit Film Theater at the Detroit Film Institute (in August and November respectively), and a week at Reel Artways in Hartford, CT in late September.
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