Basic Training

Another great documentary from Frederick Wiseman. Like his other work, its biggest virtue is that, without any talking heads etc., it allows more engagement with the footage and is much more neutral, significant for a work about the American military during the Vietnam war, allowing one to judge what we see from our own thoughts while showing the people as ordinary people who just happen to be in the army.

"how you gonna tell me that this is my country?" frederick wiseman makes movies about the most important shit

The beautiful black-and-white photography often giving a contrasting feel to the disturbing content shown on screen (similarly with 'Manoeuvre'). This is not a film that deplores the army or those that constitute this institution, but in many ways shows why the army is such a successful American institution (despite their failures in Vietnam when this was made). One envies these conscript troops for the simplicity of their barracks lives but pities them for the hell they will soon face.

"If you're just part of this larger community that we call a nation you can reap the benefits." http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2014/07/episode-21-first-films-of-frederick.html

I was impressed by how well it captures the subject. Even those of us who haven't undergone it have some vague knowledge and intuition of what happens in military training, but Wiseman's film will really strengthen and solidify your sense of it, and give you a more complete picture. It sheds light on the peculiarities of U.S. army but the gist of it is universal, really.