My Father's Vietnam

2015

Biography / Documentary / History / War

Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 83%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 83%
IMDb Rating 6.6/10 10 138 138

Plot summary

A personal documentary about a public subject, My Father's Vietnam personifies the connections made and unmade by the Vietnam War. Featuring never-before-seen photographs and 8mm footage of the era, My Father's Vietnam is the story of three soldiers, only one of whom returned home alive. Interviews with the filmmaker's Vietnam Veteran father, and the friends and family members of two men he served with who were killed there, give voice to individuals who continue to silently carry the psychological burdens of a war that ended over 40 years ago. My Father's Vietnam carries with it the potential to encourage audiences to broach the subjects of service and sacrifice with the veterans in their lives.

720p.BluRay
722.53 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles my  
23.976 fps
1 hr 18 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by 10 / 10

A discussion of experiences in Vietnam framed within a very personal lens

Soren Sorensen's documentary "My Father's Vietnam" chronicles the experiences of his father Peter Sorensen during his time spent overseas in the Vietnam War. Given the personal nature of much of the subject matter that the film covers, "My Father's Vietnam" presents this information in a very intimate way; using his relationship with his father as a framing device, Soren Sorensen shapes the film in order to allow Peter Sorensen and his friends and family members to recount the events to us almost as if we are sitting in for Soren himself, listening with full attention as we hear of these tragedies and hardships that were endured on a small scale, personal level during the war for the very first time. This makes for a very engaging experience for the viewer, leaving us feeling like we understand the subjects and the struggles that occurred during this period of their lives while giving us insight into how the events have helped to shape them into who they are today. These interviews form the backbone of the documentary, but "My Father's Vietnam" is also enhanced by a selection of never-before-seen photographs and actual 8mm footage that truly bring the words of Peter Sorensen and the other interview subjects to life on the screen. The stories that they recount are emotionally gripping and relatable; anyone with family that has gone through a situation such as this should be able to connect to something that they see or hear in this film, even if the war was never really a topic of discussion around the house. "My Father's Vietnam" intends to and ultimately succeeds in breaking down that barrier of discussion by showing insight into the minds of soldiers like Peter Sorensen through individual wartime experiences and the personal connections that they have since gone on to form in their own lives.
Reviewed by 10 / 10

A personal account of a common experience during the Vietnam War

Sorensen's exploration of his father's experience in Vietnam opens the door to the tragedy of losing a loved one with so much vitality and hope for the future. Over 50,000 families live with such loss, and this story highlights how young men make personal connections, only to have them rent apart by war. I believe people continue to watch stories like this not to dwell on the tragedy, but because other generations still care about our collective history. My Father's Vietnam tells this story with respect and interest in who they were and who the survivors are today. Sorensen mixes interviews, personal photos and personal super 8mm film from their experiences to show one view of Vietnam in 1969-1970, which substantiates the story. I found that the simplest of requests, the single act of writing an article can alter one person's experience and in a real sense, save their lives. An important aspect to understanding those who served at that particular time is the sense of duty to the country - that when our leaders deem an action important, many young men feel that it's important to do their part. Many men, including those in this film, are and were moral men, in search of doing what was right on an individual level. That often gets lost when people speak about the Vietnam War today. Those we lose live on in our memories of them, and in the sharing of those memories, and that makes this film worth watching.
Reviewed by 10 / 10

This film opens up powerful conversations

For starters, I'm in this movie. I'm the mother of the filmmaker and wife of the father in the title -- the man who made it home. Although too many people didn't make it, those who did have been home for over 40 years, and I'm betting many of them -- in their 60s and 70s now - - have rarely spoken of their experiences, views and feelings about the war. "My Father's Vietnam" opened up important conversations in our family, which helped build and cement closer relationships.If you have a family member or friend who is a veteran, watch this movie with him or her. Regardless of which war or which generation or what politics or what worries you all have about opening up the conversations, it is so worth the time. The three men featured in this film are very different. Conversations will go in new directions once you hear their stories from family members and fellow soldiers, see photos and film from their attics, and listen to powerful contextual narration.If you have no experience with veterans or wars, watch it to see the balanced views of those who do.And the end will surprise you. Thanks to our son for this gift to our family and to veterans and their families.
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