Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786300199194 Format: Black & White ISBN: 6300199193 Label: Mpi Home Video Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 2002-01-01 Running Time: 103 Studio: Mpi Home Video Theatrical Release Date: 1969-02-26
Both sober and sobering, producer-director Emile de Antonio’s In the Year of the Pig is a powerful and, no doubt for many, controversial documentary about the Vietnam War. But although the 1968 film ultimately focuses on the United States' participation in that ill-fated venture, de Antonio provides a considerably broader historical perspective; indeed, a good portion of its 103 minutes traces the 20th Century history of Southeast Asia, including French colonialism and the rise to power of Ho Chi Minh (described by one U.S. Senator as "the George Washington of his country") as the Communist leader of North Vietnam. Combining extensive file footage with de Antonio's own interviews with a variety of political and military talking heads, In the Year of the Pig goes on to deliver a clear indictment of U.S. policy and tactics in Vietnam, beginning with America's purely "technical" role in 1954 ("We are sending planes, but no pilots," says one general) and continuing through its support of the corrupt Diem regime in the mid-'60s, President Lyndon Johnson's steady escalation of U.S. military involvement, and the growing opposition to the war effort here at home. Yet while De Antonio's doesn't hide his anti-war point of view, this will never be mistaken for a Michael Moore documentary; there's little in the way of sensationalism or humor, and rather than confront his targets in person and onscreen, a la Moore, de Antonio simply gives them enough rope with which to hang themselves. Still, the DVD release of In the Year of the Pig in 2005 makes it hard to ignore the parallels between Vietnam and Iraq. In fact, when one of the interviewees suggests that "maybe what we've been doing in Vietnam all along is an exercise in… the arrogance of power," some might wonder if things have changed at all in the last forty years. --Sam Graham
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: NOT COMBAT FOOTAGE! Comment: One of the reviewers said that if you like combat footage then this is the documentary for you. THAT IS COMPLETELY FALSE! I do not know what he was smoking at the time. This documentary is 95% footage of political dialog and 5% maybe of actual field footage.
I m not saying this isn't a film worth watching as that would depend on your interest. It has a great historical background of how everything came about over there and where it went, and who was involved. But if your looking for a lot of combat footage this isn't the film for you. Customer Rating: Summary: Not my first choice Comment: I think the biggest flaw with this documentary is the gap between 1968, when the film was made, and now. First, so much happened in Southeast Asia after "the end" of the film: Tet, My Lai, the invasions of Laos and Cambodia, Operation Menu, etc. This is not to fault the film for not showing events that had not occurred yet, but it makes the film less comprehensive. The events of the Nixon administration add an even deeper layer to the war and its legacy. Second, in that 40 years, so many books, films, and documentaries have been made about the war and that abundance dulls the impact of this film. In 1969, this might have been groundbreaking. But, now, nothing about the war is particularly shocking to us and, thus, the film is less of a must-see. I would recommend "Hearts and Minds," "Vietnam: A Television History," and even "Fog of War" before this film. Each of those films has a more lasting impact than this one, IN MY OPINION. There is value in this film (I particularly enjoyed seeing and hearing the late David Halberstam), but this isn't a must-have. Customer Rating: Summary: Just another Propaganda flick. Comment: For those who like to see some combat footage, this video has that. If you want a realistic appraisal of what actually happened in Vietnam...keep looking, the guy that produced this turkey is obviously of the opinion that Vietnam was all Americas fault and tries very hard, but fails to put forth the idea that the U.S. lost the war in Vietnam from a military standpoint. Those who lived through it know better.
No, we didn't occupy and hold Vietnam, but then that was never the stated goal of the war, the biggest failure in Vietnam on the part of the U.S. Military was the failure to make the South Viet military comprehend the fact that we weren't staying forever, if there was any massive failure on the part of the U.S. it was Johnson's hard headed idea that we could win a limited war. Had the U.S. thrown in all of it's power we would have won the war, but this would have meant giving the Vietnamese the choice of capitulation or annihilation, and Johnson wasn't ready to make that decision. Customer Rating: Summary: Comparisons between Then and Now Comment: This film is very interesting in how it depicts the story of the Vietnam War. To see the politicians of the that time make the same sorts of arguments that today's politicos make, in regards to the justification of the Iraq war, is stunning. It is like the same reasoning and purposes that they say we now need to be in the Middle East, they all said about Southeast Asia. Just insert the word Terrorism for Communism as we do it all over again. "As the War Machine keeps turning..." I am glad I purchased this film. Customer Rating: Summary: fine anthology of filmed vignettes Comment: Who would ever have thought Senator Thruston Morton could be so interesting? Yet De Antonio got some great material from him. Tonkin Gulf "No"-votes, Senators Ernest Greuning and Wayne Morse, also make wise appearances. Like LBJ, all three Senators left the government after the 1968 elections.
This film is really about film-making, more than it is a History of the Vietnam War. It ends before Tet and the Paris peace talks, more or less around the time of the South Vietnamese national elections of 1967. It has compelling shots of Buddhist immolation, but overall it's addressed to the Hearts and Minds of late 60's Americans.
This is not a history for your kids: too much is missing. That being said, In the Year of the Pig is a fine documentary. Emile de Antonio works forward from his material to present a viewpoint, instead of using cinema to work backwards from some deeply-held prejudice, a la Michael Moore. A good example would be the filmed address by General LeMay: how easy it would be to turn him into General Jack D. Ripper instead of presenting his argument in an almost, I-don't-know, reasonable way.
The Home Vision Entertainment edition comes with a great essay by Douglas Kellner explaining de Antonio's cinemagraphic methods.
