KEN BURNS discussing his Book Tie in to PBS Series THE VIETNAM WAR at the 92ndY

Ken Burns (KB) is an award winning documentarian of our country's history.  He's an artist, historic & a genius.  His films aid us to ponder, understand, appreciate our legacies on a profound & enriching level.  KBs' PBS series THE VIETNAM WAR is a project he's collaboratively worked on for over 10 years.  He was introduced by Columbia film Prof. Annette Insdorf and an 8 minute clip shown from "Deja Vu" the1st in the 10 segment series of 18 hr. compiled doc.  The beginning establishes the ending of the Viet Nam (VN) doc.  Footage is shown in reverse, bombs rising up from the flaming carnage, soldiers marching backwards, destruction restored, helicopters rising from the ocean onto naval ships when fleeing Saigon and many disturbing iconic images of war's carnage including the killings of civilians.  The sound of a helicopter's whoosh that began in "Apocalypse Now" is heard before any visuals alerting us to what we're about to see.  The opening clip includes US veterans recounting their traumas of war which no one talked about then.  A Vietcong soldier "In war there are no winners, only destruction."  KB called the VN war the most divisive war in our nation since the Civil War.  His is to examine the cruelties & mercies of war, political deceit & integrity, patriotism and the insurmountable agonies of war.  KB used a triangulated perspective {US, north & south VN}.  The jolting interviews, photo compilations & news footage is astounding & heart wrenching. Our involvement in VN was 30 years of failing & suffering spanning 5 presidencies.  Nixon misrepresented  a promise in his inaugural address {seen in the beginning} "An honorable end to the war.  The people of VN, north & south have endured an unspeakable weight of suffering for a generation and they deserve a better fate." The devastating human toll took the lives of 58,000 Americans, & an estimated 3 million Vietnamese.  I was completely fascinated with whatever Burns said.  Unfortunately, Insdorf was in conversation with KB to promote her new film book along with Burn's new book tied to his PBS series; a detriment to hearing more from this extraordinary genius.  KB spoke about the music & sound effects intwined with the doc.  All the royalty fees were waived, including those from the Beatles which is a first.  He credited PBS & corp. sponsors for funding the 30 million expense making the film.  KB said editing is more than 50% of the process it's subtractive  cutting from more than a 1,000 interviews using only 79 Americans and 30 Vietnamese.  Numerous  scholars were used as references but didn't speak on the film.  KB also voiced his contempt for the recent event in Charlottesville.  At Q&A, a student asked him about the influence of his NH alma mater.  He delighted everyone telling her he'd be able to get her in & shared a humbling experience.  He isn't finished with the gist of material in the US.  His next projects are the history of Country Music, Ali & Hemingway.