Watch Regret to Inform

Regret to Inform is a powerful and moving documentary film released in 1998. The film, directed by Barbara Sonneborn, is a deeply personal account of the Vietnam War and its impact on American women who lost their husbands in the war. The film is made up of interviews with these women, as well as heart-wrenching footage of the war and its aftermath.

The film was inspired by Sonneborn’s personal experiences. Her husband, Vietnam veteran Jeff Gurvitz, died in a helicopter crash in Vietnam in 1969. Sonneborn describes how she had always felt hesitant about sharing her loss and pain with others, until she traveled to Vietnam in 1988. There, she connected with other women who had also lost their husbands in the war.

The film centers around the stories of these women, who Sonneborn describes as “the forgotten casualties of war.” The interviews are incredibly moving and provide a rare glimpse into the experiences of those left behind by the Vietnam War. Many of these women had never spoken about their loss before, and their stories are raw and emotional.

One of the main subjects of the film is Xuan Ngoc Nguyen, a Vietnamese woman who lost her husband in the war. Xuan’s story is particularly poignant, as she provides a perspective that is often overlooked in discussions of the Vietnam War. She shares her experiences of living in poverty in Vietnam, and the difficulties she faced in raising her children after her husband’s death.

The film also includes footage from the war, which adds an additional layer of emotion to the already impactful interviews. The footage is often graphic and disturbing, but it serves an important purpose in highlighting the devastating impact of the war.

Throughout the film, Sonneborn uses music and poetry to further emphasize the emotional impact of the women’s stories. The music is haunting and beautiful, and brings an added layer of depth to the film.

One of the most powerful moments in the film is when the women travel to Vietnam to visit their husbands’ graves. The footage of these women visiting the graves is incredibly moving, and illustrates how important it is for these women to finally have a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones.

Regret to Inform is an important film for many reasons. It provides a rare glimpse into the lives of the forgotten casualties of war, and highlights the emotional toll that war takes on those left behind. The film also puts a human face on the Vietnamese people, who are often vilified in discussions of the war.

Overall, Regret to Inform is a heartbreaking, yet important film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience. The film provides a much-needed perspective on the Vietnam War, and is a reminder of the importance of remembering the human cost of war.