El Salvador: Another Vietnam (1981)
Directed by Glenn Silber
Genres - War, Historical Film |
Sub-Genres - Military & War |
Release Date - Jan 1, 1981 (USA - Unknown) |
Run Time - 53 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Eleanor Mannikka
This political documentary illustrates the turbulent history of El Salvador from the1920s-1970s, and the role of the U.S. government in that history. As the title suggests, the presence of U.S. military advisors in a military dictatorship fighting guerrilla factions that are labeled communist is highly reminiscent of the beginnings of the U.S. escalation of the war in Vietnam. Although El Salvador is a dot on the map compared to the much-larger Vietnam, the potential for escalation and/or the deaths of American soldiers was not discounted. Material for the documentary came from European and North American sources, historical footage, and interviews with the dissidents -- some subsequently murdered.