MY FATHER'S VIETNAM

Cinemavixion Review

Soren Sorensen's "My Father's Vietnam" is a poignant and deeply personal documentary that transcends the individual narrative to speak to the broader, enduring impact of the Vietnam War. The film masterfully weaves together the filmmaker's own journey of understanding with the raw testimonies of those who lived through the conflict, particularly focusing on his father, Peter Sorensen, and two of his fallen comrades, Loring Bailey and Glenn Rickert. Drawing from intimate conversations with veterans and their families, the documentary gives voice to the silent psychological burdens carried for decades. It utilizes unseen photographs and 8mm footage to paint a vivid, often somber, picture of a generation marked by sacrifice. The film's strength lies in its ability to foster empathy, encouraging audiences to engage in similar conversations with the veterans in their own lives. With a runtime of 79 minutes and released in 2015, "My Father's Vietnam" is a significant contribution to the genre, offering a sensitive exploration of memory, loss, and the profound human cost of war. It is a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking to bridge generational divides and illuminate unresolved histories.