https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/6d3a274f-129b-4c78-bdad-604bddc29fc3 'Le dix-septième parallèle, la guerre du peuple' / 'The 17th Parallel: Vietnam in War' France, 1968, Frank Cassenti Language Audio: French & Vietnamese, Subs: ENG "Long documentary about everyday life in Vinh Linh near the 17th parallel, the demarcation line between North and South Vietnam. The film shows the inventiveness and determination of the North Vietnamese population to defend their own country, their own land and to reunify the country. Long and heavy bombardments by the American army, which supports South Vietnam, force the local population to live underground. The opening scene offers a panoramic view of the dividing line along the Bên Hai River. On the other side, in South Vietnam, lies the American base Con Thien, where battalions of marines have landed to save the base from North Vietnamese attacks. Refugees from the south cross the river to Vinh Linh. They are taken in and tell what happened to them. In the dark underground space, the permanent committee meets to discuss the military situation, the protection of the population and the food supply. Outside in the rice fields, a group of women sets up a mobile shelter. When too many planes fly over, the group returns. Miên explains what her job as deputy commander of the militia entails. After a night-time bombardment, Ngoc's house is damaged, but the village helps him to repair it. Anti-aircraft guns shoot down an American plane. Much of the remains of this are reused, including a bicycle. The large craters that are created after the bombings are filled in again or made useful as a fish pond. Thu, the chairwoman of the village, says that the bond between the people has become stronger after two difficult years of war. Miên exercises with the militia, the members patrol in camouflage suits, even a little dog has leaves tied to its back as camouflage. Loudspeakers spread the news of the successes of the People's Liberation Front. Huan reads a poem by a mother from South Vietnam in his sing-song voice: 'We will reclaim our land, we will avenge our suffering'. In the printing house, the magazine De Hereniging is printed on a printing press that is constructed from parts of American missiles. In Huan's family, they are still working hard on their sixth hiding place. At the water source, the group of women who have just returned from the rice fields are washing themselves. They rinse their hair and, after the umpteenth fighter jet has flown over, they continue combing their hair. At night, the Americans fire flares, but despite this, they bomb like blind men. In the underground hall, the village watches a revolutionary play with laughing faces. In a workshop, unexploded American landmines are converted into weapons against the Americans. The DCA anti-aircraft guns shoot down a fighter jet. For a fraction of a second, the head of a frightened pilot is visible. He has not had a chance to open his parachute and crashes with the plane and bomb load.Miên drills a group of women on the beach as a practice against a landing by the marines of the Seventh Fleet. 'Vinh Linh is the heart of Vietnam, of our united fatherland. Independence or slavery. Reunification or eternal separation'. Despite the bombardments, food production has increased. The wounded soldiers are treated in the hospital. They stay in the village to recover and help work on the land. The young people reenact the war, the largest of whom is American. 'Hands up'! Duc, a nine-year-old boy, helps 'the uncle soldiers'. After an attack by jet fighters, a pilot saves himself from a burning plane. On the ground, he is immediately captured and ridiculed by the population. Older residents feel the metal remains of the plane in amazement. Their village has been completely destroyed, a mother walks around in bewilderment. A class of children learns a few English words in case they encounter an American: 'Hands up!', 'Lay down your arms.' The young people stand up." -https://www.ivens.nl/films/328?view=movie (machine translated) Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:05:12 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://tankie.tube https://tankie.tube/lazy-static/avatars/3ba3ff73-a8b6-49c9-add8-9653ef090c7f.webp https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/6d3a274f-129b-4c78-bdad-604bddc29fc3 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://tankie.tube/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.