DVD Review: Trials of Henry Kissinger

Trials of Henry Kissinger, The (2002)
Directed by Eugene Jarecki
Narrated by Bryan Cox
Starring Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, Seymour Hersh and William Safire
MPAA: UR
Grade: B

Review by Scott Standish

I have to admit that I came into this film thinking "Kissinger on trial? For what?". The honest truth is that although I had heard the random criticism of Kissinger over the years, the majority of the information I was fed was along the "incredible diplomat, wise strategist" lines. The Trials of Henry Kissinger completely opened my eyes to a darker side of the man, and it has certainly changed my opinions of him (exactly what these documentarists where shooting for undoubtedly).

The Trials of Henry Kissinger focuses on the political career of (of course) Henry Kissinger and it really picks up steam as Kissinger works his way into positions of power in the Nixon administration. Based on a book by author Christopher Hitchens, this film alleges that he A) was behind the assasination of democratically elected Chilean president Salvador Allende, B) lied to Congress about the bombing of Cambodia, C) intentionally dragged out the war in Vietnam for his own political gain and D) gave tacit approval to the genocide in East Timor. Recently de-classified U.S. government documents back up the filmmakers arguments and witnesses give their one-sided opinions.

A film that is unashamedly biased, The Trials of Henry Kissinger does succeed in raising lots of questions. There have been calls for Kissinger to answer these allegations but until then, this film will have to serve as public notice: our famous diplomat is not everything that he has been made out to be.

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