This incisive documentary offers a sobering portrait of statesman Henry Kissinger, quite possibly the most powerful and influential diplomat in U.S. government in the latter half of the 20th century. Based on the book of nearly the same name by journalist and critic Christopher Hitchens (the slender volume goes with the singularized Trial), the movie takes on the form of a legal argument, bringing forward case studies that aim to illuminate Hitchens' claims against Kissinger. Among the
significant events in Kissinger's career that the movie tackles are his purported secret diplomacy during the 1968 peace talks to end the Vietnam War, the secret bombing of Cambodia in the early '70s without congressional authorization, and an alleged U.S.-backed plot to overthrow the leftist government of Chilean leader Salvador Allende. The movie features numerous interviews with legal experts, journalists, and high-ranking diplomats, such as Alexander Haig, Walter Isaacson, Roger Morris, and Hitchens himself; predictably, Kissinger did not participate in the making of the picture. ~ Elbert Ventura, Rovi
In a larger sense, this powerfully muckraking film is about the accountability of public figures and about how, in regard to international justice, there can be no exceptions.
While the filmmaking is standard documentary fare and the approach overtly biased, the narration, with tales of intelligence intrigue and ruthless foreign policy, is compelling and convincing.
Much of Kissinger's career has been spent smoothing the way for rich industrialists, ambitious rightwing politicos, military men, and, of course, himself.
Directly charging him with mass murder, the film colors Kissinger as a secretive, paranoid, duplicitous megalomaniac who rose to political superstardom while literally--the movie claims--getting away with decisions that left hundreds of thousands dead.
Jarecki and Gibney do find enough material to bring Kissinger's record into question and explain how the diplomat's tweaked version of statecraft may have cost thousands and possibly millions of lives.
Eugene Jarecki amasses a compelling body of evidence suggesting that Kissinger should be formally investigated for a possible role in the CIA-supported coup.
A one-sided (and admitted by the crew in the bonus features as such) look at a man who has been almost universally admired as a foreign policy expert. The film does an excellent job of showing how skewed this portrayal is, exposing the many instances of diplomatic deception and outright slaughter of innocent lives,
when peace was available. I would be curious to hear Kissinger's response to this film's claims, but he has made a reputation for ignoring all criticisms.
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