Dylan M. Burns

The Vietnam War is a monumental 10-part television documentary series that premiered on PBS in September 2017. Produced and directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, the project spanned over a decade and cost approximately $30 million. It aims to provide a ground-up perspective of the conflict by featuring interviews with 79 individuals who experienced the war firsthand, including American combatants, anti-war protesters, and Vietnamese civilians and soldiers from both sides. The series deliberately excluded "expert talking heads" and prominent public figures to focus on the personal stories of those who lived through the events.

The documentary utilizes extensive archival footage and photographs, detailing 25 battles within its 17.25-hour runtime. A companion book of the same name, co-authored by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns, was released alongside the series. The series garnered significant critical acclaim, with aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic awarding it high scores, highlighting its patient and graceful approach to a difficult historical subject. However, it also faced criticism from various veterans and scholars who felt it misrepresented certain aspects of the war, including the perspectives of South Vietnamese soldiers, the strategic nuances of battles, and the geopolitical context of American involvement.

The creation of The Vietnam War documentary series was an extensive undertaking, requiring more than ten years of dedicated work and an investment of around $30 million. Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, who had previously collaborated on other historical documentaries, led the production through their company, Florentine Films, in partnership with WETA-TV. A key aspect of their production philosophy was to prioritize the voices of those who directly experienced the war. Instead of relying on historians or well-known personalities, the filmmakers sought out 79 individuals, including soldiers, nurses, journalists, and civilians from both American and Vietnamese sides, to share their personal narratives. This approach aimed to offer a deeply human and multifaceted understanding of the conflict, moving beyond broad political or military analyses to focus on the lived realities of the war.

Spanning 17.25 hours across 10 episodes, the series delves into 25 distinct battles, offering detailed accounts from multiple perspectives. Researchers meticulously sifted through over 24,000 photographs and 1,500 hours of archival footage to bring these stories to life. Upon its release, The Vietnam War received widespread critical praise, with reviewers commending its depth, empathy, and the powerful personal testimonies it presented. However, the documentary also sparked debate and criticism. Some American and South Vietnamese veterans expressed disappointment, feeling their experiences were marginalized or misrepresented, particularly concerning the focus on anti-war sentiments and the portrayal of the South Vietnamese military. Scholars also offered critiques, questioning the emphasis on certain narratives and the framing of the war's origins and complexities, with some suggesting an urge towards reconciliation over unvarnished truth.

“The Vietnam War revisits a dark chapter in American history with patience, grace, and a refreshing – and sobering – perspective informed by those who fought.”

“Will break your heart and win your mind.”

“After The Vietnam War I'll have to lie low. A lot of people will think I'm a Commie pinko, and a lot of people will think I'm a right-wing nutcase, and that's sort of the way it goes.”

“an example of how to calmly assess episodes fraught with passion and sorrow.”

“The combat films are extraordinary; the recollections and reflections of combatants and others on both sides are even more so, featuring photos of them then and interviews with many of them now.”