LET THERE BE LIGHT

Cinemavixion Review

John Huston's "Let There Be Light" is a stark and unflinching examination of the psychological toll of war, presented as the concluding chapter of his trilogy for the U.S. government. Filmed in 1946, the documentary delves into the experiences of returning combat veterans grappling with what we now recognize as PTSD, then termed psychoneurosis or shell-shock. The film intimately portrays the struggles of these patients and the dedicated staff involved in their treatment. Its frank depiction of wartime trauma led to its suppression by government officials, deeming it detrimental to postwar morale. Consequently, "Let There Be Light" remained unseen by the public until its release in 1981, offering a powerful, albeit delayed, testament to the enduring impact of combat on the human psyche.