The Trials of Henry Kissinger (2002)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Eugene Jarecki

Writer:

Alex Gibney (writer)

Release Date:

9 April 2003 (Germany)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A film about the war crimes of the American diplomat, Henry Kissinger.

Plot Keywords:

Indonesia | Cambodia | Human Rights | Diplomacy | Foreign Policy

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Brian Cox	...	Narrator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anna Chennault	...	Herself
Amy Goodman	...	Herself
Alexander Haig	...	Himself
Seymour Hersh	...	Himself (author)
Christopher Hitchens	...	Himself
Barbara Howar	...	Herself
Henry Kissinger	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Michael Korda	...	Himself (Editor-in-Chief, Simon & Schuster)
Lewis Lapham	...	Himself (Editor, Harper's Magazine)
Geoffrey Robertson	...	Himself (Human Rights Lawyer)
William Safire	...	Himself (New York Times)
René Schneider Jr.	...	Himself
Michael Tigar	...	Himself (Professor of Law)

Also Known As:

Le procès de Henry Kissinger (France)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA | UK | Denmark | France | Canada | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | France:U

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2003) (TV)

Kissinger on Trial (well, he should be!)

The news of Henry Kissinger being selected to head the commission to investigate the Sept. 11 attacks makes seeing the new documentary, `The Trials of Henry Kissinger,' required viewing.

Based on a book by Christopher Hitchins, the film shows many former Kissinger supporters - including Nixon speech-writer, William Safire - calling the former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State secretive, a liar and even a war criminal.

Kissinger's Cold War schemes of bombing Cambodia, the genocidal invasion of East Timor by Indonesia and the coup and related atrocities in Chile are all well researched in this 80 minute film.

One of the many documentary interviewees is René Schneider Jr. His father, Gen. René Schneider, was head of the Chilean military when Allende was first elected. The general was killed during an attempt to kidnap him, as he was staunchly committed to the constitution, and would not bow to a coup against Allende. Evidence points to Kissinger directing that botched kidnapping.

Near the end of the film, Schneider is asked if he planned to press charges against Kissinger for his role. His response was, `we are considering it.' The date when charges finally were first reported in the //New York Times// was Sept. 11, 2001. The $3 million civil suit against Kissinger quickly faded into the background in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

With Kissinger to chair the Sept. 11 probe, things appear to have come full circle now.