Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1987 TV Movie) User Reviews

Now more than ever.

[FilmSnobby · 9/10 · 8 November 2005]

For close to a decade we simply pretended that it never happened. We lost. It was a mistake. But by the Eighties, the United States, strengthened by distance from the event, spent a lot of cultural capital expatiating the Vietnam War: tell-all books; magisterial policy summaries; sordid and violent fiction; meticulous PBS documentaries; TV dramas (remember *China Beach*?); the magnificent work of art that is the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial; and, of course, movies. Aside from that great and powerful Wall, I believe that this humble HBO documentary, *Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam* is perhaps the most artful and cogent assessment of the War. 86 minutes in length, it boasts entirely historical footage from both NBC News archives and soldiers' own video, the urgent and timeless rock music of the period, and, of course, the soldiers' letters to their loved ones back in The World.

The letters, ironically, reveal the only blemish to this wonderful film: the somewhat misguided decision to allow celebrity actors to read them. Funnily, most of these actors were "veterans" of Vietnam War movies: Tom Berenger (*Platoon*); Robert De Niro (*The Deer Hunter*); Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn (*Casualties of War*), Robin Williams (*Good Morning, Vietnam*), Martin Sheen (*Apocaylpse Now*), and so on. One can't shake the feeling that the stars must have felt a kinship -- unearned, obviously -- with the average joes who wrote the letters. When you suddenly hear the instantly recognizable voice of, say, Robert De Niro, you are necessarily taken out of the visceral experience that the movie creates. Although I honor the big shots' intentions (they took no pay for this), their services weren't really required, here.

Thankfully, the selections are brief enough so as to minimize any thespian showboating. And this brevity highlights, rather than diminishes, the eloquence, humor, desperation, and meaning of the soldiers' words. They write about the day-to-day routines of camp, the abject terror of hacking their way through elephant grass wherein the unseen enemy lurks, the beauty of an improvised fireworks show (miraculously caught on film, providing a visual accompaniment to the letter), the seedy delights that await the next R&R excursion in Saigon, the despair of losing your best friends in battle, and so much more. Visually, the film may be even more impressive: there's some amazing footage of bombardments, mortar attacks, firefights right in the midst of the action, and the day-to-day horseplay in camp. Perhaps the most stunning footage was shot in Khe Sanh: a group of besieged Marines, anxious to fight, depressed at being shut in, hair slowly growing to mop-top proportions, wax philosophically about their situation even as that situation grows worse day by day. (Ultimately, there were 77 of those days.) Occasionally, their forced calm gets rattled by a devastating mortar attack on their ramparts from the Viet Cong. Just amazing footage. Of real historical value, too. Speaking of amazing and historical, the North Vietnamese footage of American POWs gingerly celebrating Christmas while in custody will haunt you.

On the periphery of all this found footage, director Bill Couturie keeps a chronological record of the Big Picture, with the assistance of the archives of NBC News. (He somehow located the video of the first 3,500 troops who landed in country in 1964!) On each December 31, title cards inform us of the growing death and casualty tolls suffered by American troops -- by the end of 1968, these numbers have grown to horrifying proportions. Couturie doesn't delve into the background of the conflict, and rightly so: this is the soldiers' story, not a thesis paper by a policy wonk. What does emerge, however, is the utter helplessness of those in command, from LBJ to General Westmoreland to Richard Nixon. One gets the sense that our leaders were trapped in a policy of their own devising. No way out. No victory forthcoming, no matter how many bombs we dropped. A war feeding itself; a self-perpetuating machine. These small-minded men clearly had no solutions -- none, at least, that would salvage enough of the nation's honor to mitigate the whole misbegotten enterprise.

Boy, this all sounds familiar, doesn't it? -- read the news lately? Oh well. Santayana's advice about history is always cited and never followed. In any event, this Veteran's Day (three days from now as of this writing), I'll watch *Dear America* -- now on DVD -- with my father, a Vietnam veteran awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and even a yellowing certificate of Merit from the long-gone South Vietnamese government. For many years, he, like the rest of country, couldn't talk about the war. Now, he looks back on it with wonder, sadness, and pride. For those GenX children of surviving Vietnam Veterans, consider how lucky you are if your Dad was one of the lucky ones to get back to The World alive, and listen, listen, listen. These men and women have much to teach us, now more than ever. *Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam* can help get that conversation started. Thank you, Mr. Couturie, for this important film.

9 stars out of 10.

Interesting Documentary, Powerful At Times

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 5 May 2006]

Letters and film footage from actual soldiers and nurses who fought in Vietnam are read aloud and shown in this "documentary." The letters are read by famous actors and actresses.

It turns out to be a sometimes-powerful moving saga of Vietnam through the eyes of those who were there but, remember, it's the filmmakers deciding what letters are read. That means you get an anti-Vietnam War bias, but it's not as blatant as one might think.

There is some good footage of bombings and nothing really gross, injury-wise, to view, most likely because this was made-for-TV.

The most moving part of the show was the last letter, from a mom to her son who had died 15 years earlier in Vietnam. That letter is a real tear-jerker. Overall, an excellent documentary, one of the better ones of its era.

A Heartfelt Way to a Time and Place

[August1991 · 8/10 · 2 July 2004]

This film presents the Vietnam War from the American perspective and primarily from the perspective of ordinary American soldiers. It is chronological and describes essential events to put the soldiers' stories into context. While it might help viewers to know basic facts about the war beforehand, the film stands alone. I think this would be an excellent film to show students when discussing, for example, the Cold War.

This film is a remarkable documentary because it presents various sides to a complex story in such a short running time. I think the film succeeds because it simply reports the truth. I am not American and appeals to American patriotism or God's blessing of America tend to roll my eyes, not make them tearful. But this film makes the lives of these guys plain to a universal audience.

Once the film started, I was so captivated that I ignored the narration and never even thought about who was speaking. I was only grateful the filmmakers chose people practiced in reading text clearly. Ignore the famous names connected to this film. That's not the story at all. The images and music, however, are part of the story. But not front and centre. That place is reserved for the ordinary words of ordinary Americans.

Probably the only war movie that really makes you fear war

[pooear · 10/10 · 3 May 2000]

Dear America, is most certainly one of the really great war films, and this is because nearly everything is real, all footage and the letters read are real, the only things that aren't authentic are the actors voices, however these are some of Hollywoods finest so believing them to be the actual soldiers, mothers, nurses is easy.

It is more a documentary then a film, but the presence of the actors gives it a cinemeatic feel.

Accompanied by a great soundtrack (has there ever been a Vietnam movie with a bad one) this is one of the most moving and poignent movies you will see, it is through its realness that ones gets a feel of how bad war really is, it is probably one of very few war movies that really makes you fear war, because there is no adventurous sub plot, just some letters from young guys, most of whom just want out.

The final letter really sums up the entire movie, and I would have to say this is one of the most moving pieces of film ? I have seen, this is then followed by Springsteens Born in the USA, which brings a fitting conclusion to the film

Best documentary I have ever seen

[Frenchy21388 · 10/10 · 27 February 2005]

I saw this movie during my English class about a week ago and I can say that it was the best documentary movie I have ever seen. Everyone's eyes were glued on the movie and that is very rare to see in my class. If was an emotional movie. Famous actors read the letters that men and nurses wrote during the war. You saw what it was like for the soldiers and what was going through their heads at the time. The music in the movie was connected to the time period of the war and it fit the movie really well. It helps you feel connected to the soldiers through their own words. The people who read these letters read them with such passion that you just listened and it felt as if the soldier themselves were reading them. You didn't pay attention at all to the people reading the letters but to the words they were actually reading. I would recommend this movie to everybody and anybody. It is so powerful and it has a really strong impact on the viewers.

A Must see..one of the best

[goya-4 · 10/10 · 28 February 2001]

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam is a documentary based on the book which printed letters from the soldiers and nurses who served in Vietnam. This emotional and powerful film takes the viewer through the war from optimistic beginning to seeds of doubt to the bitter end and a postscript with the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial. While read by famous actors..some of whom you will recognize..it does not in any way detract from the raw power and emotion of the words of the soldier or nurse who having seen enough of the war, now wonders why and when they will make it back home. A true masterpiece that should be seen by all those in power before sending troops. This is the Very best film - fiction or non fiction - that i have seen. On a scale of one to ten..way up there...10

A wonderful film to teach high school students about the war

[cybertiques · 10/10 · 4 January 2002]

I grew up with the Vietnam war being a major part of my life from the age of 9 to the age of 19. I have tried to get my daughter to understand what it was like having lost my father at 9, then having my oldest brother enlist six months later and when he returned, my second brother was drafted near the end of the war. It still affects us to this day in our jobs, our feelings, our survival skills, and how it molded all of us. It wasn't until she saw this film that the entire war sunk in and she could relate to it. Bless her high school English teacher for making them watch this and read books on the Vietnam War. She came home and said "Mom, I couldn't believe those kids were just like us! They were just 18, 19 yr. old and had to go through that! Some of the boys look just like boys in my class! Now I know why it so affected you. You and your brothers were all kids." More high schools should use this film to teach kids about Vietnam. She borrowed it from her teacher and I watched it with her again. I narrated what was going on at our home during the various time lines so she could understand that from 9 to 19 I lived with this everyday, effecting my entire life and I never left the USA!

Very Strong Emotional movie

[sunnymoon13 · 12 November 2002]

Nothing can capture the hopes and fears of the brave soldiers who fought and died for freedom like their own words. Take that and add the documentary films and photos taken in Vietnam and you have a reality that no fictional movie can capture but that hundreds of thousands went through every day, doing what they do best in a place they'd rather not be. The actors reading the letters manages to capture the sincerity and the emotions of the people writing them.

Highly recommended.

gripping

[im_tyler_durden444 · 7/10 · 25 February 2007]

This piece was comprised completely of real film captured during Vietnam, which is really so hard for a person like myself to grasp. I wasn't alive for the war, and the only reference point I have ever had, was films like Apocalypse Now. To see these images, and to be told that they were in fact real, and not pre-planned and scripted was really shocking. The images ranged from uplifting shots of soldiers bonding together as Americans united against a cause, and devastating shots of bodies being carried away. The music was unfortunately very clichéd, and was not appropriate for the tone and mood of the piece. I think the narration from actors both worked for and against the final product. At times I could recognize the voice, and it would make me think of the person reading the letter instead of the letter itself. The most moving performance to me was that of Ellen Burstyn, who read the letter of the mother at the end. It was very moving, and appropriately emotional.

Moving, powerful

[bgood26 · 10/10 · 2 June 2004]

What's there to say about a documentary which combines letters from soldiers in the Vietnam War with news clips and music of the day?

I saw "Dear America" only once, back in 1987 as a senior in high school, yet I remember it as well as movies I saw last year. Celebrities--including Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Robert DeNiro, and Michael J. Fox--read actual letters from the soldiers fighting the war with such passion, it seemed the letters were read by their writers. But somehow, the focus stayed on the grunts who wrote the letters.

The most moving and memorable was the final letter, read by Ellen Burstyn, written by a mother to the son she lost to the war. The actual letter was placed at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC.

It's been nearly 17 years since I first watched "Dear America." I use the video now, a lifetime later, to teach *my* high school students about the Vietnam War.

PG13: real war footage, mild language, and brief nudity. Despite the rating, less mature middle and high schoolers might see "Dear America" as just another war movie and not appreciate its importance.

The Devastation of War

[gcd70 · 7/10 · 9 February 2008]

One is hard pressed to think of a more devastating event in a nation's history that that of war. In the case of the United States of America, the Vietnam conflict has left scars that even today are sorely evident.

Screenwriter, director and co-producer Bill Couturie presents us here with a very real look at how this most terrible (and seemingly pointless) of wars affect the very men and women that were a part of it. Documentary footage and news reel archives have been put together to show the devastation and atrocities that occurred in Vietnam, while a plethora of movie stars including Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn, Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Ellen Burstyn, Kathleen Turner, Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe give voice to the letters that soldiers and nurses sent home to their loved ones.

Couturie has pieced together the narrative so as to tell the story of the Vietnam war chronologically from 1964-73, giving us the full picture of how the events of that time were so greatly influenced by the goings on in what seemed such a small part of the world. It also shows how politics and public opinion not only shaped but changed the course of the war dramatically.

Each individual letter, every one filled with emotion, tells the self same story of the destruction of innocent lives, of human courage amid extreme adversity, and of the way the war totally crushed the human spirit. Many of the actors do a fine fob bringing to life these haunting testimonies. The visual accompaniment only serves to double the impact of what was truly a most grievous time in the history of mankind, and serves as a most disturbing and painful reminder. Included are some spectacular images of man's awesome destructive power ( one bombing raid in particular demonstrates this) and his unrelenting misuse of it.

Over 50 000 men and women were lost to the Vietnam war from America alone, not counting other allied forces, the enemy troops, nor the civilians themselves, many of them women and children.

Saturday, May 20, 1995 - T.V.

Once I Was

[krorie · 10/10 · 13 July 2006]

This is undoubtedly the best documentary about our involvement in Vietnam. Director, co-writer, co-producer Bill Couturié reteaches documentary hounds how it is done, following in the footsteps of such mighty mentors as Robert J. Flaherty. The only talking heads seen in "Letters Home...." are those from the era via old newsreels, TV broadcasts, Presidential addresses, Congressional comments, and such. "Letters Home...." also represents one of the best integrations of historical events with music from the period under study.

Couturie in being as objective as possible for anyone who lived through the Vietnam era, shows the horrors, political machinations, and atrocities of the war along side the bravery, patriotism, and sacrifice made by those young men and women who faced death on a daily basis. The unnecessary murder of students at Kent State by the Ohio National Guard is highlighted along side the letter from a grunt in Vietnam asking Americans to be as concerned about the thousands of their countrymen dying in the jungles of Southeast Asia as they are about the four who died in the Kent State massacre.

One sees first hand how a minor brush fire in a distant corner of the world becomes a conflagration that nearly destroys a great nation, how politicians such as the Texas anachronism Lydon B. Johnson and the paranoid Richard M. Nixon continue a conflict after it becomes apparent even to those fighting the war that victory has become an illusion. One thinks of those gallant Americans who continued to lay their lives on the line during the gradual retreat, knowing that the cause for which they were fighting was now fleeting.

The documentary consists of letters written home by America men and women serving in Vietnam. Tragically, most of the authors of the letters were casualties of the war. Many of the voices will be recognizable by the viewer because they are still actors and actresses who are currently making movies. Such dramatic readings add to the overall effect of this powerful film.

The heart of this documentary is paying tribute to American fighting forces who battled against all odds for their country and the freedom for which it stands. The ending is particularly moving with a letter from Mrs. Stocks left at the Vietnam Memorial, the Black Wall as she calls it, for her KIA son: "I would rather to have had you for twenty-one years and all the pain that goes with losing you, than never to have had you at all. -Mom."

Though the crux of the movie is dead serious, there is much humor strewn about to ease the effect of the brutal footage shown; otherwise, the documentary would have been much too morose to watch for nearly one and a half hours. One letter talks about the water tasting like p*ss; another from a wounded grunt tells his mother (can you believe?) that the bullet came too close to his pecker for comfort. There is also news footage of grunts clowning around in camp (one takes out his false teeth for the camera; another exhibits his less than adequate family jewels). The documentary begins with soldiers having fun surfing in the ocean as "Wipe Out" is played in the background. This is interrupted by Hughies peppering the ground with bullets. There is a respite from the horrendous shots of bodies floating in the Mekong as people cruise by nonchalantly in boats, with a Bob Hope show featuring beautiful young women and a rowdy audience of soldiers. One young man is asked by Bob Hope how he likes Miss India. Stumbling for an answer since he knows he's on camera, the nonplussed young man holds up his hand and says, "How!"

Too bad there is no soundtrack CD for "Letters Home...." Some of the best music from the Vietnam era, or from any era for that matter, is played to make the vintage film clips more meaningful, more relevant. Some of the standout tracks are: "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the few Vietnam War protest rock songs of the day. "A Change is Gonna Come" by the legendary Sam Cooke, who was murdered at the height of his career by a jealous woman before the Vietnam War became a reality (his song is still prophetic for the war and for the Civil Rights Movement of the day, "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" by the folk rock icon, Bob Dylan. "Are You Experienced" and "Five to One" by the equally legendary Jimi Hendrix, "Gimme Shelter" and "No Expectations" by the Stones, and the epitome of post-war re-evaluation, "Born in the U.S.A." by the Boss. Also included is the apocalyptic "Once I Was" by the neglected artist, Tim Buckley. The rest of the soundtrack is just as powerful and meaningful, with nary a clinker.

For those who lived through the tragedy of Vietnam, "Letters Home...." will bring back memories, both good and bad. To those who belong to a later generation of Americans, viewing "Letters Home...." will provide a better understanding of the Vietnam experience.

A bunch of famous actors reading notes from Vietnam soldiers

[Xophianic · 5/10 · 1 February 2000]

This movie is basically about a bunch of famous actors and actresses reading letters that soldiers in Vietnam wrote to their families. What I liked about this movie was that it didn't focus so much on the names in it, like Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox and Robin Williams. Rather it keeps it's eye on the ball and focuses more on the Vietnam war and the tragedies within it. It probably won't make you burst into tears, but it is a fairly good picture that does what it is meant to do.

the voice of experience

[mjneu59 · 9/10 · 13 November 2010]

After a long cycle of dramatic fictions the true voice of the Vietnam experience is restored to those who knew it best: the veterans themselves, both living and dead. There may be a built-in flaw behind the idea of quoting letters out loud on camera (because on paper the written word has a silent voice that speaks to the reader directly), but director Bill Couturié does what he can to minimize this drawback by hiring an ensemble of professional actors to help articulate the emotions locked on each page: confusion, bitterness, terror, rage, sorrow, and irony. Viewers can play the guessing game of celebrity voice identification, but after a while the words seem to fade away beneath the horror of the imagery itself, a compilation of TV news stock, home movies, and other footage, including rare scenes from inside a North Vietnamese prison camp. The letters are arranged chronologically, and as American military presence increases so too does the viewer's emotional involvement. Some of the correspondence is more effective than others, but every letter is an eloquent reminder of the loneliness of the common soldier, and of the importance of that vital link through the mail between home and hell.

For the Vietnam Enthusiasts

[phatape56 · 10/10 · 4 February 2007]

The Vietnam conflict is by far the most interesting foreign defensive occupation in my opinion and this film depicts many of the emotions felt through out the war. This film also shows through fascinating war coverage the extremely intriguing and complex issue of democracy vs. communism. It is a high recommendation for anyone looking for interesting facts, actual war footage, and an entire slew of stories told in great expression by many different actors.This film is historically appealing because of its sole coverage of the life and times of different American soldiers caught in the depth of death grips of an unseen quagmire.

Powerful

[pbalos · 9/10 · 8 June 2000]

An excellent documentary that brings one back in time if you lived through that era.It hits home even if one wasn't in Viet Nam, but rather "lived" the war through nightly news TV, experienced the turmoil in the streets, or in some other capacity.

The readings were excellent and made one feel deeply for the soldiers involved.The one drawback was the reading of the final letter from a brokenhearted mother written to her dead son fifteen years later; it was a beautiful letter with touching words, but the melodramatics behind the reading was not necessary.

Overall, it was touching and powerful.

My dad was in the best movie ever made!

[arensgirl · 10/10 · 5 June 2005]

My Dad I and watched this film when it first came out on HBO, I have always been interested in watching documentary's about Vietnam war because my father was there. This movie touched my heart in so many ways because it gave me an insight to what my father went through but, halfway through the movie their was a picture of my father with his other buddies, he was so jazzed to see himself in this movie and I was excited that he was in the movie. To this day Letters home from Vietnam is the best documentary ever made. thank you for letting us see a portion of what the men and women went through and the men and women who gave their lives so I could be free today.

Tear Jerking

[walterhickoxhardwood · 10/10 · 3 May 2006]

I have seen a lot of movies and such about Vietnam, This was by far the best. It was like being there again. I saw myself in the seen when Nixon name the 82nd ABN. Div. was going home. I missed going home with them by 17 days. Great Documenary. Walter Hickox B Trp. 1/17th Cav. 82nd ABN. Div. I was the only boy of 7 boys in my family to go to Nam. I have always recommended them seeing Dear America if they wanted to know how it really was. I am always moved when I watch this movie. It was so real. I met the writer at the Wall, many years ago. He knew how much his movie meant to this Vet. and I thank him again and again for bringing the real Nam home. Thanks, Walter

Touching memorial, why do we need war...

[brian_r_wright · 9/10 · 7 September 2009]

Couturié builds his authentic human story on the framework of nightly network news broadcasts, mostly in black and white, from the ratcheting up of America's "commitment" (when LBJ ascended to the presidency) thru the so-called Vietnamization of the war—withdrawing American troops—in the years following the Tet Offensive of 1968. Also, the director posts, on a black and white background showing aircraft in the sky, the statistics at the end of every year: (American) dead, wounded, missing. Final tally: 58,159 dead, 303,635 wounded, 2,000 missing. You watch the stats grow every year, and shake your head.

Such remarkable simplicity in a cinematic creation does not happen by chance, and the love in "this labor of" shines through...

...

For my complete review of this movie and for other movie and book reviews, please visit my site TheCoffeeCoaster.com.

Brian Wright Copyright 2009

An extremely political movie that brings realism to what actually happened in the Vietnam War.

[flyaway122 · 27 August 2002]

Dear America:Letters Home From Vietnam is a compilation of the letters of certain American soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. The film is based on a book of the same name which was commissioned by the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission. The film includes photographs of individual soldiers some of who have died, and also includes 'home-video'-type footage of American soldiers. The film documents the experiences of American soldiers at war at the same time as it portrays the change in the publics attitude towards American involvement in the Vietnam War. The letters written by the American soldiers are read by famous actors such as Michael J. Fox, Martin Sheen and Robert DeNiro. The whole idea of the film was to show the American and Australian public what these soldiers actually faced day in-day out. The film leaves the viewer to weigh up all the evidence and to decide whether American and Australian involvement was right or wrong. In all knowledge that the given information is true. If looking for information on the Vietnam War, and need some personalized examples of soldiers then this film is a must to see. And for those who are just curious about the Vietnam War, I highly recommend seeing it.

Dear America - Letter home from Vetnam

[winterchar · 10/10 · 26 May 2015]

This is a very emotional movie and very well done. My husband and I watched movie this together years ago and he got up and walked out of the house during the movie. It was too much for him. He was a Vietnam Veteran. Recently, approximately 6 months ago, I started watching it again. It's been over 20 years. This December it will be 20 years ago that he took his life. Our children were 13 yrs, 11 yrs and 10 yrs at that time. They are now 32 yrs, 31 yrs and 29 yrs and doing well. I still miss him and feel so much guilt that I couldn't save him. He is buried in the state Veterans" Cemetery, and I know he would be proud of this. Thank you, Mr. Bill Coulturie, for this movie and giving me some kind of release. I need to cry and you have given me the outlet. Bless you, and thank you.

Charlene winter

An Intense and Powerful Documentary

[whitewolf121 · 10/10 · 17 November 2006]

I first saw this film in my Honors English class, and it was incredibly moving. I never watch many documentaries and was not expecting much, but this movie brought me close to tears. One of my best friends was crying by the end of it. The music flowed perfectly with the movie, except for Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." Much of the film featured little more than songs and the sound of gunshots. The letters, spoken by the varied cast of actors, were touching. It was difficult to believe that these were all written by real people in a time of fear and suffering. If you have ever felt war to be a distant and unreal thing, this movie will bring it home and make you understand.

A Touching Documentary.

[Matt_Layden · 8/10 · 20 July 2009]

Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam is exactly what the title suggests. Even though the documentary sounds like it could get very tiresome very fast, Couturie has enough skill and passion for the subject to keep the audience interested in what these soldiers are writing back home to loved ones.

I don't think a film like this can happen today because the media controls what we, the viewer, see and hear. Back then it was all broad casted for everyone to see. This is why the film works as well as it does, it doesn't try to hide anything, it shows us who these young soldiers are and what they feel about the war.

For so long we politicians and citizens argue over the war and if they support it or not, this is the first time we hear it from the soldiers themselves. The sound track is powerful enough to set you back into the time era. We are listening to what these soldiers listened to; these songs were their way of getting out of the war and being back home with their family.

Dear America shows us skillful editing and careful attention to detail, not only are all the song choices good, but they serve the scene well. With the skillful editing and song choice the viewer is thrown into this war themselves and they connect with each soldier there.

The one complain I have would be having Hollywood actors read the letters. It took me out of the experience because I would recognize some of the voices, then I would realize that it's not this soldier reading it to his family, it's Robert De Niro or William Dafoe.

This film is touching and real. You can see the passion are care that was put into making this film and you will leave with respect for the young people who lost their lives in the time of war.

A Continuing Lesson

[nturner · 10/10 · 10 November 2008]

Dear America is an HBO documentary derived from the book of the same name. If you have not had the privilege of reading the book, I heartedly recommend it.

When I see and read the newscasts daily of young soldiers being killed in the Middle East, it reminds me of this book and film.

The film offers readings by celebrities of letters from soldiers serving in Vietnam to friends and relatives back home. In the film, the letters are certainly poignant, but needless-to-say, are far more shattering in the book.

The thing that gives the film its extra punch is that all videos are actual recordings of the time, and it is filled with news broadcasts of the time. The most haunting newscast comes early in the film in which President Johnson is stating his justification for increasing the forces and activity in Vietnam. If you substitute "terrorists" for "Communists" and "Iraq" for "Vietnam," Our President Bush could have given the speech word for word. Obviously, this proves that those in power cannot learn from history and that is the bent of bilious, old politicians to send young soldiers off to be slaughtered in places of no consequence for any justifiable reasons, and these are certainly bipartisan sins.

The film ends with a reading by Ellen Burstyn written by the mother of William R. Stocks on February 13, 1984 - fifteen years after his death - that she placed at the Vietnam Memorial. It is wrought with emotion but so eloquently states the mindset of both soldiers and those who wait at home in fear that one cannot help to be affected by the message.

If you are too young to remember Vietnam, this film is a great history lesson. If you lived during that era, this film is a sober reminder. Watch it, learn, or remember.

The best Vietnam War Film

[alitams · 16 October 2004]

I have this on video having stumbled on it late one night on British TV.

Every time I watch it I get tears welling up listening to the emotion in every word written by the letter writers.

The actors reading them do so in such an 'under acted' way, it gets across the true feeling of the writer.

Not only can this film bring out such emotion, but I have learned more about the history of the Vietnam war from this, than from any other documentary.

I would recommend this film to anyone who has watched all those 'Namm' films thinking that this is all it was. This film will change your mind.