The trials of henry kissinger, a documentary based on the book by british journalist christopher hitchens, argues that kissinger, the former u. The trials of henry kissinger world news the guardian. Kissinger book inspired the 2002 documentary film, the trials of henry kissinger features film of kissinger. A refugee from nazi germany, he rose to prominence in american politics thanks to his ruthless strategies of setting nations against each other in the name of improving the u. The trials of henry kissinger 2002 is a documentary film inspired by christopher hitchens 2001 book the trial of henry kissinger, examining war crimes. Hitchens makes an appearance in the film, being interviewed about kissinger. Henry kissinger speaks at the asia society, nyc, february 2007. Henry kissinger simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Henry kissinger on imdb charlie rose a conversation with henry kissinger, december 16, 2008. Most of the trials of henry kissinger relates kissinger s biography. They can either persist in averting their gaze from the egregious impunity enjoyed by a notorious war criminal and lawbreaker, or they can become. He is also the onetime us secretary of state who oversaw the destruction of civilian populations, the.
Contrary, then, to what the film the trials of henry kissinger suggests, there was no straight line between the events of 1970 and the coup of 1973. Henry kissinger was elevated and praised by all of my political science teachers when i was a college aged student. The film focuses on christopher hitchens charges against henry kissinger as a war criminal allegations documented in hitchens book of the same title. The film focuses on henry kissinger and his role in americas secret bombing of cambodia in 1969, the approval of indonesias genocidal assault on east timor in 1975, the assassination of a chilean general in 1970, and his involvement in the 1969 paris peace talks concerning the vietnam conflict. Movie info the trials of henry kissinger is a documentary based on christopher hitchens controversial book about the nobel laureate and famous u. He is respected by some for his work in developing ties between richard nixon and mao the trials of henry kissinger on vimeo. Featuring previously unseen footage, declassified documents, and revealing interviews with kissinger supporters alexander haig, brent scowcroft, and william safire as well as his detractors seymour hersh, william shawcross, and christopher hitchens, the trials of henry kissinger explores how a young boy who fled nazi germany grew up to become one of the most powerful and. The trials of henry kissinger letterboxd your life in film. Sep 26, 2002 the feverish position paper called the trials of henry kissinger, which began a twoweek run yesterday at film forum, may not be a breakthrough in filmmaking, but it is unwavering and arresting. The trials of henry kissinger top documentary films. The trials of henry kissinger 2002 decades after he left washington, henry kissinger remains a divisive figure in american politics.
Rather, conscious choices by allende and his own people drove the military into action that it would normally have been disinclined to carry out. Is henry kissinger nobel laureate and the most famous diplomat of his generation also a war criminal. The trials of henry kissinger 2002 the trials of henry kissinger 2002. That put the film the trials of henry kissinger in the middle of a raging debate about the fitness of henry kissinger to head that commission. The trials of henry kissingera film whose new left sensibility dates to the mad kubrickian age of nukes and namopens with a montage in the same ironic vein. The trials of henry kissinger is a highly charged political docu using the same title and some of the same reasoning from christopher hitchens accusatory book. Bangladesh the trial of henry kissinger by christopher hitchins. Both intellectually distanced and replete with the arrogance that only one in or once in a. Using a blend of archival film footage and interviews. The documentary also features film of kissinger but only in archive footage. By the way, note the slight, but perhaps significant difference in the title. A film about the war crimes of the american diplomat, henry. Feb 24, 2001 henry kissinger is revered as a statesman, cosseted guest, star of the lecture circuit. The trials of henry kissinger 2002 rotten tomatoes.
Henry kissinger is an elder statesman of the american political landscape. The trials of henry kissinger, directed by eugene jarecki and written by alex gibney adapted from christopher hitchens book is definitely a film that, if it were actually given a wide enough audience, would provoke some fairly strong reactions. Jun 20, 2016 the trials of henry kissinger 2002 the trials of henry kissinger 2002. In this 80minute documentary, director eugene jarecki follows the intent of the book by christopher hitchens, which was to put kissinger on trial before a world court with himself as prosecutor. Its kissingers role in chiles military coup that has made him a specific target of international prosecutors, who want him for questioning in pinochet investigations in six foreign countries. This program examines the lawsuit against henry kissinger, in which he was charged with having authorized the assassination of a chilean general in 1970, with engineering the secret bombing of cambodia without the knowledge of the us congress in 1969, and with supporting the sale of us weapons to indonesian president suharto for use in the massacre of onethird of the population of. The trials of henry kissinger is a documentary based on christopher hitchens controversial book about the nobel laureate and famous u. Columnist christopher hitchens decalres kissinger a war criminal. Based on the book, the film covers both sides of the debates against kissinger. The film focuses on christopher hitchens charges against henry kissinger as a war criminal allegations documented in hitchens book of the same title based on his role in countries such as cambodia, chile, and indonesia. The trials of henry kissinger 2002 films for action.
Inflammatory, but extremely thoughtprovoking, the trials of henry kissinger is a film that should be viewed. The trials of henry kissinger serves as both a prosecution brief. Henry kissinger is revered as a statesman, cosseted guest, star of the lecture circuit. The film focuses on henry kissinger and his role in americas secret bombing of cambodia in 1969, the approval of indonesias genocidal assault on east timor in. He puts former secretary of state henry kissinger on trial at last, and indicts him for war crimes and crimes against humanity in vietnam, laos, cambodia, chile, cyprus, east timor, for an attempted assassination of greek dissident journalist. The feverish position paper called the trials of henry kissinger, which began a twoweek run yesterday at film forum, may not be a breakthrough in filmmaking, but it is unwavering and arresting. A film about the war crimes of the american diplomat, henry kissinger. Kissinger deserves prosecution for war crimes, for crimes against humanity, and for offenses against common or customary or international law, including conspiracy to commit murder, kidnap, and torture. Documentary film edit the book inspired the 2002 documentary film the trials of henry kissinger, which was cowritten by hitchens and fellow writerdirector, alex gibney.
Reflections on spengler, toynbee and kant, was over 400 pages long. That war was one of the lowest points in modern us history. Click here to watch it now featuring previously unseen footage, newly declassified u. In the lacerating documentary the trials of henry kissinger, written by alex gibney and directed by eugene jarecki, the nobel laureate is seen uttering the above words toward the end of the brief, eightyminute polemic. The director of that film, eugene jarecki commented. The trials of henry kissinger is available to screen for sundance now doc club members. His senior undergraduate thesis, titled the meaning of history. It has focus, its scrupulously annotated with actual transcripts and keysource interviews, and makes a strong case for indicting henry kissinger as a war criminal under the same. Is henry kissinger, nobel laureate and the most famous diplomat of his generation, also a war criminal. This was one of those cognitive dissonance things because henry kissingers was one of the primary executors of the viet nam war under richard nixon. The trial of henry kissinger by christopher hitchens.
Bangladesh excerpted from the book the trial of henry kissinger by christopher hitchins verso press, 2001. Though a bit dated, the trials of henry kissinger provides a brief summary of the controversial career of one of americas most infamous diplomats. With brian cox, henry kissinger, anna chennault, amy goodman. The book inspired the 2002 documentary film the trials of henry kissinger, which was cowritten by hitchens and fellow writerdirector, alex gibney.
The trials of henry kissinger 2002 is a documentary film inspired by christopher hitchens 2001 book the trial of henry kissinger, examining war crimes claimed to have been done by henry kissinger, the national security advisor and later secretary of state under presidents nixon and ford. This program examines the lawsuit against henry kissinger, in which he was charged with having authorized the assassination of a chilean general in 1970, with engineering the secret bombing of cambodia without the knowledge of the us congress in 1969, and with supporting the sale of us weapons to indonesian president suharto for use in the massacre of onethird of the population of east timor. This little book includes some of christopher hitchens best investigative reporting. The trials of henry kissinger 2002 movie moviefone. Annotated bibliography for henry kissinger from the alsos digital library for nuclear issues. The trial of henry kissinger quotes showing 15 of 5 the burden therefore rests with the american legal community and with the american humanrights lobbies and nongovernmental organizations.
The trial of henry kissinger hitchens, christopher, dorfman, ariel on. The trial of henry kissinger quotes by christopher hitchens. The trials of henry kissinger 2002, is a documentary film inspired by christopher hitchens 2001 book the trial of henry kissinger, examining the alleged war crimes of henry kissinger, the national security advisor and later secretary of state under presidents nixon and ford. The film also gets my greatest stamp of approval i want to dig deeper into this subject so that i can form an opinion, and the trials of henry kissinger is the reason behind this need for further research. Watch the trials of henry kissinger online 2002 movie yidio. Provoked by the christopher hitchenss book, filmma. May 23, 2016 kissinger book inspired the 2002 documentary film, the trials of henry kissinger features film of kissinger. Henry kissinger received his ab degree summa cum laude, phi beta kappa in political science from harvard college in 1950, where he lived in adams house and studied under william yandell elliott. Apr 21, 2012 the trials of henry kissinger 2002, is a documentary film inspired by christopher hitchens 2001 book the trial of henry kissinger, examining the alleged war crimes of henry kissinger, the national security advisor and later secretary of state under presidents nixon and ford.
The trials of henry kissinger, directed by eugene jarecki and based on the hitchens 2001 book the trial of henry kissinger, plays like a. Weaving together a vivid assemblage of stock footage, archival documents and talkinghead spots, the movie winnows the book down to three of its more damning studies. In an interdependent world, the rule of law must prevail. Henry kissinger impunity cannot be tolerated, and will not be. It also plays like a roast, with easy jibes about his appetite for dating starlets and his avid careerism at one point, we learn, he assured friends he would be the white house foreign. Kissingers story raises profound questions about american foreign policy and highlights a new era of human rights. Add to watchlist based on the book the trials of henry kissinger by christopher hitchens, this documentary raises the subject of henry kissingers effect on american foreign policy.
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