Chandler Public Library to host preview screening of Ken Burns’ ‘Vietnam War’

Arizona PBS is partnering with the Chandler Public Library to host a special sneak preview of the upcoming Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary, “The Vietnam War,” leading up to its premiere.

The exclusive preview screening features highlights of the ten-part, 18-hour documentary film series, which tells the story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. The event also includes an in-depth panel discussion on the war.

The special screening is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Chandler Downtown on 22 S. Delaware St. Event registration is open at chandlerlibrary.org/vietnamwarfilm.

Premiering Sept. 17, on Arizona PBS, “The Vietnam War” features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both sides.

The screening at the Chandler Public Library will feature excerpts from the ten-part series, including the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the early antiwar movement and the Tet Offensive, among other topics.

“Chandler Public Library is honored to be presenting this exclusive PBS program to the community,” said Dan Lee, manager of the Chandler Public Library. “Every day, we strive to be the place where people of all ages can explore topics and continue learning. With the success of our America in Times of Conflict collaborative series, we know this documentary preview about the Vietnam War will bring a lot of interest.”

Ten years in the making, the series brings the war and the chaotic epoch it encompassed viscerally to life. Written by Geoffrey C. Ward, produced by Sarah Botstein, Novick and Burns, it includes rarely seen, digitally re-mastered archival footage from sources around the globe. The series also features photographs taken by some of the most celebrated photojournalists of the 20th century, historic television broadcasts, evocative home movies, and revelatory audio recordings from inside the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations.

The first five episodes will air nightly from Sunday, Sept. 17, through Thursday, Sept. 21, and the final five episodes will air nightly from Sunday, Sept. 24, through Thursday, Sept. 28. Each episode will premiere at 7 p.m.

“We are excited Arizonans will have the chance to experience a portion of this powerful documentary before it airs,” said Arizona PBS General Manger Mary Mazur. “Hopefully ‘The Vietnam War’ documentary will provide insights for all generations and spark an interest to learn more through their public libraries. We are fortunate to have the Chandler Public Library as our partner for this screening and grateful for their work in the community.”

Preview Screening: “The Vietnam War”
Wednesday, Aug. 30 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Chandler Downtown Library – Copper Room
22 S. Delaware St., Chandler, AZ 85225
RSVP: chandlerlibrary.org/vietnamwarfilm

“The Vietnam War” rounds out a trilogy of Florentine Films’ exploration of American wars that began with Burns’s landmark series, “The Civil War” (1990), followed by Burns and Novick’s seven-part series about the World War II, “The War” (2007).

Funding for “The Vietnam War” is provided by Bank of America; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; PBS; David H. Koch; The Blavatnik Family Foundation; Park Foundation; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; National Endowment for the Humanities; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Ford Foundation Just Films; Rockefeller Brothers Fund; and Members of The Better Angels Society: Jonathan & Jeannie Lavine, Diane & Hal Brierley, Amy & David Abrams, John & Catherine Debs, Fullerton Family Charitable Fund, The Montrone Family, Lynda & Stewart Resnick, The Golkin Family Foundation, The Lynch Foundation, The Roger & Rosemary Enrico Foundation, Richard S. & Donna L. Strong Foundation, Bonnie & Tom McCloskey, Barbara K. & Cyrus B. Sweet III, The Lavender Butterfly Fund.

“The Vietnam War” is a production of Florentine Films and WETA, Washington, D.C. Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. Written by Geoffrey C. Ward. Produced by Sarah Botstein, Lynn Novick and Ken Burns.