Introduction to the Enemy

Introduction to the Enemy (1974)

This film documents the journey of actress Jane Fonda and her husband – future California state senator Tom Hayden – through North and South Viet Nam in 1974. They travel from villages to towns talking with ordinary Vietnamese about their lives and the effects of the war on their lives, families, and communities.

Date of release
1974-11-15
TMDB
9.0 / 10 (1)
Runtime
1h 0m
Genres
Documentary, War
Director
Haskell Wexler

Casting

Interesting facts

Introduction to the Enemy is a 1974 American documentary film about Vietnam, filmed and directed by Haskell Wexler, co-produced by Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden. Shot in the spring of 1974 and released before the end of the year, the film examines the human costs of the Vietnam War. The camera follows American actress Jane Fonda and her husband Tom Hayden, already known in their home country for antiwar activism, as they make inquiries regarding the war's effects and legacy among Vietnamese people from all walks of life.

Production and distribution

Introduction to the Enemy was the first release of Fonda's newly founded production company, the Indochina Peace Campaign (later rebranded as IPC Films). Cinematography was by Wexler with assistance by Pham Viet Tung. Film editing was handled by Christine Burill and Bill Yahraus.

The film was released to select theaters in November 1974. Fonda and Hayden went on an accompanying lecture tour, speaking at screenings throughout the U.S. and beyond. As a commercial release, it was a box office failure, but an expected one. Beyond its limited release, it was frequently donated to antiwar groups and shown free of charge. In interviews, Fonda spoke of the imperative to spread the message of the film.

Read on Wikipedia · Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Data from Wikidata.

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