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Sir! No Sir!

Play trailer Poster for Sir! No Sir! Released Jun 19, 2005 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In this documentary, celebrities such as Jane Fonda join their voices with veterans and soldiers to recount the largely suppressed antiwar movement that occurred within the United States military over the course of the Vietnam War. Using archival news footage and contemporary interviews with Vietnam veterans, the film discusses the G.I.s' growing distrust of the war and details the U.S. Army's swift, severe and often secret response to the expression of antiwar sentiments within its ranks.
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Sir! No Sir!

Sir! No Sir!

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Critics Consensus

A powerful reflection on a pivotal era, from a viewpoint seldom visited, this documentary hits home, especially with its relevance to current events.

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Critics Reviews

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Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com We haven't got space to do justice to David Zeiger's important historical documentary Sir! No Sir! but suffice it to say that it will change your understanding of the Vietnam era, even if you were alive then. Dec 15, 2006 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader I expected to emerge depressed by how long these stories have gone untold, but the speakers' courage and humanity are a shot in the arm. Dec 15, 2006 Full Review Wesley Morris Boston Globe Zeiger's movie is a timely salute to the risky and brave men and women who had the temerity not only to think for themselves but to speak their minds. Rated: 3/4 Jun 16, 2006 Full Review Maria Garcia Film Journal International An aimless pastiche of archival footage and current interviews of former Vietnam vets court-martialed and jailed for their anti-war activities. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review David Cornelius DVDTalk.com The power Sir! No Sir! has as a film overrides any problems it presents. Rated: 3/5 Dec 16, 2006 Full Review Stuart Klawans The Nation David Zeiger's documentary feature Sir! No Sir! might be described as a therapeutic film, since it seeks to cure some small part of America's amnesia. Nov 11, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Memorable documentary on the trials and tribulations of those who protested the Vietnam war...who actually were in Vietnam. The history of the soliders who rebelled on the field and their lives afterwards. A good addition to the Vietnam canon of film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Probably the best documentary on this topic I have ever seen. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member As I watched the opening half hour of this film, I thought to myself, "How is it that I never knew about this?" A fascinating and encouraging look into the anti-war efforts of Vietnam soldiers, this movie is packed with information and stories about widespread opposition that I was never aware of. The image of soldiers throwing their medals away in Washington, DC is a powerful one, and a testament to the courage of those willing to take the unpopular stance of opposing the government's standard line of the war being a necessary one. Vets are interviewed who suffered violence, insults, and spent time in jail for their beliefs. To be reminded that there are those who have risked and endured far, far more than myself and friends in opposing violence is very encouraging and emboldening. Perhaps the only thing that taints the film is the continuous presence of Jane Fonda, who - while a strong voice against the war - famously accused American POWs of lying about being tortured by the Viet Cong when they were captured. The film does not examine this controversy whatsoever, and treats Fonda as just another anti-war demonstrator who happened to be a celebrity. Being an anti-torture activist, this did not sit well with me. However, about 90% of the film did resonate very positively with me, and I highly recommend it for any peace activist who needs a bit of encouragement and for those unaware of the courage in the (surprising large) anti-Vietnam-war movement. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member If these cowards had been in WW2, they would have been shot, dismembered, and then shot again. I only saw people that were a disgrace to the uniform. Thankfully we went to a volunteer force so only those that want to serve, serve. This collection of potheads and cry babies weren't nearly as bold or as outspoken as the director makes them out to be. Jane Fonda will forever live with the stain of her traiterous ways. Add Zeigler to the group. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member A very revealing documentary about the anti-war movement that was started by our troops during the VietNam era. Although the imagery we now have is that of dirty hippies spitting on soldiers as the returned from serving overseas, this documentary goes to show that that is a far cry from the truth. There was a concerted effort amongst members in all branches of the military to protest what they were being required to do. Much of it was in the form of propaganda (underground newspapers and the like), but also outright refusal to obey orders. Some were courts-martialed for expressing a differing view, while others were even sentenced for mutiny. Some soldiers went as far as shooting their commanding officers or NCOs. The Black supremacist movement, en-vogue at the time, seized upon the disenfranchisement of Black soldiers to cause problems for "Whitey." One example is the uprising in a military jail in VietNam where White inmates and guards were attacked for days. According to the documentary, this strife inside the military caused the pull-out from VietNam and the change over to aerial bombings. As much as I cannot stand hippies, these people basically had the right idea. I wonder why we don't have this type in the military now (or is much of it not reported?). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member A stirring account of the anti-war efforts within the U.S. military. It's an important addition to Vietnam war chronicles. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sir! No Sir!

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this documentary, celebrities such as Jane Fonda join their voices with veterans and soldiers to recount the largely suppressed antiwar movement that occurred within the United States military over the course of the Vietnam War. Using archival news footage and contemporary interviews with Vietnam veterans, the film discusses the G.I.s' growing distrust of the war and details the U.S. Army's swift, severe and often secret response to the expression of antiwar sentiments within its ranks.
Director
David Zeiger
Producer
David Zeiger, Evangeline Griego, Aaron Zarrow
Screenwriter
David Zeiger
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 19, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$114.3K
Runtime
1h 25m
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