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The Vietnam War

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2017
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
9.1/10
32K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,200
51
The Vietnam War (2017)
A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
54 Photos
DocuseriesHistory DocumentaryMilitary DocumentaryDocumentaryHistoryWar

A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.

  • Stars
    • Peter Coyote
    • Huy Duc
    • James Willbanks
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.1/10
    32K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,200
    51
    • Stars
      • Peter Coyote
      • Huy Duc
      • James Willbanks
    • 182User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #22
    • Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
      • 5 wins & 10 nominations total

    Episodes10

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    TopTop-rated1 season2017

    Videos1

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    Photos54

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    Top cast94

    Edit
    Peter Coyote
    Peter Coyote
    • Self - Narrator
    • 2017
    Huy Duc
    • Self - North Vietnam…
    • 2017
    James Willbanks
    • Self - Army Advisor…
    • 2017
    Duong Van Mai Elliott
    • Self - Saigon…
    • 2017
    Joachim Król
    Joachim Król
    • Self - Sprecher
    • 2017
    Ernst August Schepmann
    • Self - Sprecher
    • 2017
    Hans-Gerd Kilbinger
    • Self - Sprecher
    • 2017
    Simon Roden
    • Self - Sprecher
    • 2017
    Josef Tratnik
    • Self - Sprecher
    • 2017
    Bernt Hahn
    • Self - Sprecher
    • 2017
    Maximilian Hilbrand
    • Self - Sprecher
    • 2017
    Renate Fuhrmann
    • Self - Sprecherin
    • 2017
    Robert Steudtner
    • Self - Sprecherin
    • 2017
    John Musgrave
    • Self - Marines…
    • 2017
    Phan Quang Tue
    Phan Quang Tue
    • Self - Saigon
    • 2017
    Karl Marlantes
    Karl Marlantes
    • Self - Marines
    • 2017
    Nguyen Ngoc
    • Self - N. Vietnamese Army…
    • 2017
    Bao Ninh
    • Self - N. Vietnamese Army…
    • 2017
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews182

    9.132.4K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Vietnam War' by Ken Burns is lauded for its comprehensive coverage, emotional impact, and detailed archival footage, offering a thorough exploration of the conflict. Common themes include the war's complexity, human cost, and political ramifications. Criticisms focus on perceived biases, selective veteran representation, and the documentary's length. Some call for a more balanced portrayal of all sides involved.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    9crwdennis-cd

    Great documentary series with some possible limitations

    Well, I thought that was an amazing documentary. I think Ken Burns does an epic and moving job covering the events from a big picture political perspective. You really get a sense of the weight of history, and the scale of tragedy, particularly how decisions made by presidents and governments set in motion forces that led to catastrophic suffering. Millions of deaths and unhealed emotional wounds. I also thought the documentary was very good at the military level, describing battles and engagements that I had never heard of, in a reasonable detail. And the music and photography was epic. Seeing those pictures of old-time American life juxtaposed with the chaos of Vietnam was so moving. I also thought the reconciliation part at the end was really beautiful.

    There were three things about the documentary that I did think were weaknesses.

    1. There was such a focus on the protests, and starting so early on in the series, it kind of overwhelmed the narrative in some ways. I have read that the vast majority of veterans were proud of their service in Vietnam, and did not have this tortured sense of regret and shame that you see with those interviewed in the series. Some did but not most.

    (for evidence see this article - https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/ken- burnss-vietnam-is-fair-to-the-troops-but-not-the-cause-1507324058)

    2. I wonder about the conspiratorial angle of things. This documentary portrays the North Vietnamese as almost magically destined to win, as if it was inevitable, as if nothing the Americans could have done would have made any ultimate difference. I just wonder if part of the reason the Americans lost is because they weren't allowed to win. I mean, had the Americans occupied Hanoi and Haiphong Harbour, would not the North Vietnamese have been unable to prosecute the war? Surely if the Ho Chi Minh trail was permanently occupied in several places there wouldn't be the communist resupply into South Vietnam? But perhaps none of this would have been possible without China directly entering the conflict. Who knows.

    3.Because the documentary is so long, and also attempts to cover the bigger historical events, I don't think it captures the day to day experience of the Vietnamese villagers that well. I mean, what made someone turn to the VietCong? What was daily life like? There is another, Vietnamese documentary "the face of the enemy" which I think does a better job of this.

    Overall, a fascinating time spent watching this, and I recommend it to all with caveats.
    10MikeyB1793

    Monumental Documentary

    This is overwhelming. This documentary had me riveted through all 10 episodes.

    I recorded it, but could never proceed directly to the next episode because so much emotion was packed into each one. I had to give at least a day between each viewing. After viewing an episode I would shut the TV off. Watching anything after would have been anti-climatic compared to the intensity of what I had just absorbed.

    Among many excellent passages from the documentary, this is one of my favourite commentaries: "It is very, very difficult to dispel ignorance if you retain arrogance".

    We are provided with the full panoply of the Vietnam War, with many different viewpoints and opinions. From start to finish this is visually engrossing. Full congratulations go to the makers of this unforgettable documentary.
    10trustn-47834

    Excellent Historical Record - Just Wish the Australian Effort was Mentioned

    First a disclaimer of sorts.

    My dad (now deceased) served with the Australian Army from 1953 through to 1983, and did 3 Tours in Vietnam as a regular soldier. His first was with the AATTV (Australian Army Training Team Vietnam), as an Military Adviser to Vietnamese Forces, and his other two Tours took place after Australia Committed Regular Army units to Vietnam, with SASR.

    He died of cancer at 65.

    With this in mind My review of this excellent start to what looks like being an informative and educational program now follows.

    My chief gripe in the introduction to the main body of the work was the lack of mention of any effort by their Allies such as Australia or New Zealand, also the bit on Korea made it sound wholly a US War which it wasn't - it was a UN operation, involving everyone from Turkey and Greece through to British Commenwealth Forces.

    Australia for example deployed everything from an Aircraft Carrier (HMAS Sydney),Naval Frigates and Fighter Squadrons through to Ground Forces, with all 3 services (RAN,RAAF and RAR) seeing extensive service and being involved in large scale battles such as Kapyong.

    Now to the good bits.

    Seeing it from the viewpoint of the Vietnamese was brilliant, both north and south. Talking about the French and American efforts early in the build up to the war was also great.

    The musical score, be it the opening by Bob Dylan, or the instrumental work done by Yo Yo Ma and Atticus Ross And Trent Reznor is as usual spot on and not overpowering or taking away from the story its backgrounding.

    All in all a great start which I look forward to seeing more of.
    10rzaxlash

    The most profound piece of film I have seen in years

    I love documentaries, I'm incredibly interested in wars and I'm biased towards Ken Burns' Docs. So I may be skewed in that regard when I say that The Vietnam War was the most moving thing I have seen on my television set in years, maybe decades. It is an investment. 10 episodes, most of them 2 hours long, at times admittedly redundant, but packed with incredible insight, astounding footage, and all kinds of juicy political revelations. I have heard some criticisms that this documentary leans favorably towards Communism and does not celebrate American soldiers enough. I would beg of anybody to watch this to put aside their political views when watching this beautiful documentary. Many times during my viewings, I thought I had a firm stance on something that occurred during the war and then somebody would come on and share their view on the subject. Immediately, my view was shaken, if not changed altogether. I can't say that the film looks favorably or unfavorably on any particular political party or 'side' if you will. All I can tell you is that everybody, from VietCong farmer, anti-war protesters, prisoners of wars to ambassadors all have plenty of screen time to share their perspective. And in a nutshell, that's what blew me away about this documentary. The different perspectives that arose. I am only convinced of one thing after seeing this documentary, there simply is no answers on this war. And certainly no obvious truths. War is complex, war is hell, war wounds and war heals. You can go into this thing looking to vilify Nixon, slander the VietCong, lambaste antiwar protesters, but I assure you you will walk away having learnt something and fostered a new outlook. Incredibly highly recommended but this is not popcorn and beer viewing. Serious, graphic and powerful stuff. Amazing.
    10coyote5

    great film!

    Heartbreaking. Deeply moving and beautiful film about a great tragedy. Many of the 18 hours made me want to cry.

    I've watched every minute of every film Ken Burns ever made. I couldn't be a bigger fan. I know not everyone is, but I don't understand how. (Too emotional? Emotions are the greatest truths. And that's never more the case than in this film "The Vietnam War".) (Too liberal? No, objective, moderate.)

    It's common for Burns's works to contain important tangential sub-themes. (A primary sub-theme of "Baseball" was race in America.)

    "The Vietnam War" only had minor tangential sub-themes. It's story is so important that it didn't need major ones. Burns's "The Civil War" (about the only more-divisive war in American history) told the story of a nation growing up, coming together. "The Vietnam War" tells the story of America becoming it's modern, highly polarized, ungovernable/chaotic present. As such this film could not be more current, relevant, and important.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many of the combat footage reels shown throughout the series are not from the battle being discussed, for example, during the discussion of Saigon during the Tet Offensive, several videos filmed in the city of Hue are shown as if they are in Saigon.
    • Connections
      Featured in Ken Burns: America's Storyteller (2017)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 17, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Ken Burns The Vietnam War Website
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Vietnamese
    • Also known as
      • Війна у В'єтнамі
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Florentine Films
      • PBS Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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