The War at Home (1979 film)

The War at Home is a documentary film about the anti-war movement in the Madison, Wisconsin area during the time of the Vietnam War.[3] It combines archival footage and interviews with participants that explore the events of the period on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[4]

The War at Home
Directed byGlenn Silber
Barry Alexander Brown[1]
Produced byGlenn Silber
Barry Alexander Brown[2]
Narrated byBlake Kellogg
CinematographyDan Lerner, Richard March
Edited byChuck France
Production
companies
Distributed byNew Front Films
Release date
1979
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

The film focuses on student protests of government policies in the Vietnam War, clashes between students and police, and the responses of politicians and the public to the turmoil.[5] Among the major events included is the Sterling Hall bombing. Intended to destroy the Army Math Research Center in the building, the bombing also caused massive destruction to other parts of the building, resulting in the death of a physics researcher, Robert Fassnacht, who was not involved in the Army Math Research Center. Bomber Karleton Armstrong, brother of Dwight Armstrong, is interviewed for the film, as is Paul Soglin, an antiwar leader who went on to be mayor of Madison.

Reception and legacy

It earned an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature nomination.[6]

Dialogue from The War at Home was used as samples in the song “Thieves” by the band Ministry[7] on the 1989 album The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste.[8] Bill Siegel, director of The Trials of Muhammad Ali, was inspired to become a filmmaker after seeing the film.[9]

Availability

In 2018, the film was restored in 4K by IndieCollect and re-released.[10]

References
  1. "The War at Home (1979) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  2. 1980|Oscars.org
  3. Film Restoration Initiative
  4. "NY Times: The War at Home". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  5. Review: Restored version of 1979 documentary ‘The War at Home’ shows necessity of protest - Los Angeles Times
  6. William Shatner and Persis Khambatta present Documentary Oscars in 1980-Oscars on YouTube
  7. Thieves by Ministry - Topic on YouTube
  8. "List of Ministry Samples". Prongs.org. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
  9. "Playback: Barry Alexander Brown and Glenn Silber's 'The War at Home'". International Documentary Association. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  10. Canby, Peter (2018-10-12). "The Classic Vietnam-Era Documentary "The War at Home" and Its Lessons of Nonviolence". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
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