Hell in a Very Small Place.
That was the name of a book by Bernard Fall about the siege of Dien Bien Phu.
The 1954 battle was a turning point in Indochina, where the French made a last ditch effort to maintain control in Vietnam.
It also is the point where the United States began send men and materiel to try and stem what was seen as the tide of communism in southeast Asia.
This documentary, although more than 25 years old, still resonates.
What it does is show the mistakes on the French side and the tenacity of the Vietminh.
This film is short. It in no way can be considered exhaustive but it serves its function well: it is a fine introduction into one of the most important watershed moments in world history.
Battle for Dien Bien Phu shows how the Vietminh used low-tech methods to get the upper hand over the French. They used the Ho Chi Minh trail under jungle cover to shuttle soldiers and weapons to the French stronghold.
The movie uses footage from the Vietminh perspective and many survivors of Dien Bien Phu are interviewed.
It is interesting to note that this documentary was made curing the cold war and viewers should try to watch it with sensitivity to that period in history.
Again, this film is great for newcomers to world history and shows how a determined insurgency can defeat a modern army.
In short, the Vietnamese wanted it more.
Battle for Dien Bien Phu is available to rent.
Murphy can be reached at: [email protected]
