You're the Enemy—Welcome Back!

Forty years on, the pain and suffering of the Vietnam War continues to haunt both the American military personnel who served in Indochina and the Vietnamese people caught in the crossfire between the various factions engaged in the brutal conflict. Pankaja Brooke's documentary follows a group of American veterans to Vietnam as they seek cathartic resolution to the horrors of the past while also attempting to create a healing bond with the Vietnamese. To the amazement of many vets, the Vietnamese here do not hold longstanding anger against Americans; instead, they welcome the visitors with a generosity of spirit that is nothing short of astonishing. Many of the vets still have problems coming to terms with guilt and anguish stemming from their military service—ranging from long-undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder to the lingering shame of damage inflicted on Vietnamese civilians—making this trip one that carries a greater resonance for the former soldiers than their obliging hosts. Although the documentary feels a bit too brief for the subject, it is nevertheless a sensitive and intelligent film about the continuing legacy of Vietnam. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)