The 17th Parallel 1968
Joris Ivens' gripping war documentary *The 17th Parallel* (1968) plunges viewers into the harrowing reality of life along the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam.
Director: Joris Ivens
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The 17th Parallel (1968) about?
This documentary immerses viewers in the daily struggle of Vietnamese civilians living along the 17th parallel, where survival means farming by night and sheltering from relentless aerial assaults. The stark visuals and unfiltered perspective reveal a community clinging to hope amid the chaos of a war that spares no one.
Who directed The 17th Parallel?
The film was directed by the renowned Dutch documentary filmmaker Joris Ivens, known for his politically charged and visually striking works that confront war's human toll.
Who stars in The 17th Parallel?
While credited as a documentary, the film features an ensemble of Vietnamese civilians, farmers, and fighters whose real-life experiences drive its narrative power.
Is The 17th Parallel (1968) worth watching?
As a raw, ground-level portrait of Vietnam's civil war, *The 17th Parallel* offers unparalleled historical and emotional weight, especially for fans of war documentaries and vérité filmmaking. Its uncompromising honesty and haunting imagery make it a must-see for those seeking to understand the human side of conflict.
How long is The 17th Parallel?
The film runs for 113 minutes, packing its stark storytelling and emotional impact into just under two hours of gripping footage.
About The 17th Parallel (1968) — A raw, unfiltered look at Vietnam's divided heartland
Joris Ivens' gripping war documentary *The 17th Parallel* (1968) plunges viewers into the harrowing reality of life along the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam. Through stark, unflinching footage, the film captures the resilience of civilians who defy bombs and bullets to till their land under cover of darkness, while farmers trade plows for rifles in a desperate struggle for survival. Seething with quiet fury, the documentary transforms firsthand journalism into a haunting meditation on war's brutal indifference to human life, blending raw immediacy with a filmmaker's moral clarity.
Banned from mainstream screens during its release, *The 17th Parallel* endures as a testament to the power of vérité filmmaking, where every frame feels like a witness to history. The 113-minute odyssey forces audiences to confront the paradox of a divided nation—where the earth itself becomes a battleground, and silence speaks louder than bombs.