Winter Soldier

"A harrowing document of Vietnam veterans sharing the details of wartime atrocities while the memories were still clear in their minds, Winter Soldier is a difficult but deeply moving film that should be seen by anyone still trying to understand the war in Vietnam, and this DVD release of the film (from Milliarium Zero and New Yorker Video) will allow many people to see this film for the first time, given its spotty distribution over the years. Winter Soldier was shot on black and white 16mm stock, and the image quality of this disc (brought to video in its original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1) is occasionally ragged, as the source materials have become pock-marked with scratches and marks. However, the transfer itself looks fine, and the flaws in the picture don't lessen the film's impact. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo, and thankfully fares better than the image, with the voices clear and audible throughout. The film has been closed captioned in English, with optional subtitles in German and French. In addition to the feature, this release includes two short films drawn from the footage of the Winter Soldier Investigation, which were shown at anti-war meetings, as well as a large gallery of still photos from the WS meetings, and various Vietnam Veterans Against The War actions. Also featured on this disc is a round table discussion with the filmmakers behind the Winter Soldier project, and Seasoned Veteran: The Journey of a Winter Soldier, a profile of Scott Camil, a Vietnam veteran and political activist who was featured prominently in the feature. It's hardly lighthearted fate, but Winter Soldier tells a story that still demands to be heard, and this DVD edition presents this film -- and the men it chronicles -- with the dignity and respect they deserve."