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Directed by Peter Davis Hearts and Minds could quite possibly be the greatest documentary about the Vietnam War. Released in 1974, this American film’s title is based upon a quote from President Lyndon B. Johnson “the ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there”. When you watch the film you will see it couldn’t be more fitting for a heart-wrenching film.

It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974, but not without a lot of controversy. In the United States, commercial distribution was delayed because of legal issues, inclusive of a temporary restraining order by one of the people interviewed in the film. Former National Security Advisor Walt Rostow made claims that Hearts and Minds was “not representative” and “somewhat misleading”. His argument was that he had not been given the chance to okay the outcome of his interview.

Unfortunately the controversy didn’t end there as Columbia Pictures refused to disperse the film, leaving the producers no alternative choice then to purchase the rights back and find another means to release it. They did so and managed to show it Los Angeles for the particular week in which it need to be shown in order to be considered in the 1974 Academy Awards. Hearts and Minds provides an in-depth look into a war in which regulators made it quite clear they did not want shown.

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