There is no shortage of films that seek to recount and retell the horrific events of the Vietnam War. Stories of bravery, brotherhood, and purpose have served as Hollywood’s way to shape the war into something a bit more “consumer-friendly” for the following generations — but the reality is often far bleaker. In Spike Lee’s newest Netflix Original, Da 5 Bloods, audiences are offered a rare glimpse at the aftermath of the period — including its physical, emotional, and mental effects on the war’s participants.
Da 5 Bloods centers around Otis, Paul, Eddie, and Melvin — a group of African-American squadmates, now veterans — as they return to the country to pay their respects to their fallen leader, played in various flashbacks by Chadwick Boseman. Together, the friends must undergo a series of trials, tribulations, and challenges to overcome their past, all while taking part in a transformative journey of mind and soul. The film’s ensemble will feature significant actors and fan favorites, including the likes of Jonathan Majors, Paul Walter Hauser, Norm Lewis, Mélanie Thierry, Delroy Lindo, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Clarke Peters, and is slated for release on June 12 via Netflix.
