Winter Soldier

In early 1971, eighteen documentary filmmakers joined together at a Detroit Howard Johnson’s hotel, as part of the "Winterfilm Collective," to record the testimony of more than 125 Vietnam veterans. Over the course of three days, the vets gave personal voice to the atrocities and war crimes that they witnessed and committed in Vietnam. This public record speaks volumes about the American military’s continued disregard for the Geneva convention and stands as a brutally honest caution against any country ever engaging in war. However, to diminish the film as simply an anti-war documentary is to ignore the terrible human cost that is so eloquently weighed in the articulate and gut-wrenching stories of the brave soldiers who came forward to tell their sad stories in 1971. The film has rarely been seen since its 1972 Cannes Film Festival premiere, and is an essential and necessary piece of American history. Special features include French and German subtitles, a conversation with the filmmakers, "Seasoned Veteran: The Journey of a Winter Soldier" (about Vietnam vet Scott Camil turned anti-war activist), documentary shorts "Americal Division" and "First Marine Division," an audio presentation of Graham Nash's 1973 protest song "Oh Camil!" (dedicated to Scott Camil), a trailer for the film's 2005 release, and stills gallery, as well as DVD-ROM testimony documents. Aspect ratio is 1:37 full frame, with sound quality processed in mono. (Movie – Five Stars, DVD Features – Five Stars). Not Rated, 96 mins. (New Yorker Video/ Milliarium Zero)