“The Clash of Wills”, produced by the Department of Foreign Affairs Programming at VTV, is part of the VTV Special series. According to journalist Le Hoang Linh: “Through an American lens, the documentary will vividly and truthfully portray the resilience and heroic determination of the Vietnamese people and army, the visionary leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and other outstanding Vietnamese leaders who dared to stand up to the world’s number one military superpower, creating a glorious milestone in Vietnam’s struggle against foreign invaders that shook the world”.
The documentary follows the journey of Craig McNamara – son of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and author of the book “Because Our Fathers Lied – A Memoir of Truth and Family, from Vietnam to Today” – in search of the truth about the war. In addition to recounting how he witnessed his father's role in planning and waging the war, Craig visits archives, interviews witnesses, and travels to the sites in Vietnam that bear the legacy of his father’s war to uncover the mysterious X factor, the unquantifiable strength of the Vietnamese people and army that Robert McNamara failed to account forand that ultimately led to America’s bitter defeat.
The documentary also explores the divisions within American society and the personal tragedy inside the McNamara family, as Craig recounts how he became an active member of the anti-war movement, opposing the very war his father helped orchestrate. In the film, Craig McNamara offers an apology to the Vietnamese people, something his father never dared to do during his lifetime.
“He committed crimes – crimes against humanity” – Craig McNamara states in the film – “It’s a tragedy that men like my father didn’t speak out back then”.
“This time, I’m going back to Vietnam to ask the Vietnamese: Why were we wrong? And why did you desire independence and unification so much?”.
Speaking to VTV Times before the broadcast, journalist Le Hoang Linh said: “Episode 1 of the documentary follows Robert McNamara’s journey and explains why the Vietnamese were able to win the war. Episode 2 follows Craig McNamara’s transformation – from the son of a Defense Secretary to an anti-war activist, opposing the very war his father waged. The film goes further, delving into the profound familial and psychological tensions in American households – using the story of Craig and his father as a lens to explore a deeper narrative about America itself”.
