Camden 28
(2007/Vietnam Documentary/First Run Features)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Documentary: C+
Anthony
Giacchino’s Camden 28 (2007) is a
documentary of one of the most important events of resistance against Vietnam
by the Religious Left, as a group in New Jersey led by Catholics with a
conscious against seeing minorities and poor white purposely being sent
overseas in outrageously higher numbers than you would have seen in WWII. They broke into a draft office, destroyed all
kinds of records and incurred the wrath of the FBI, et al, as a result.
It shows
how naïve they were and also how effective they were. The documentary begins in the early days of
the Vietnam debacle in the early 1960s when conformity was unquestioned. Unfortunately, things get uglier and they are
among many who can no longer stand by and just let the events unfold
unchallenged. Howard Zinn is also
included in this 83 minutes long piece that should have expanded into more of
the actual events. Still solid as it
stands, it is worth a good look.
The
letterboxed 1.78 X 1 image is too soft for its own good, especially for
something so newly produced. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo works better, but still has location audio limits. Extras include text filmmaker biographies,
Howard Zinn essay, more interviews, reunion of the 28 and bonus archival
footage.
- Nicholas Sheffo
