The Trials of Henry Kissinger

The Trials of Henry Kissinger analyses the legacy of the American diplomat Henry Kissinger, implicating him in a series of alleged war crimes and breaches of international law.

Based on The Trial of Henry Kissinger by polemicist and journalist Christopher Hitchens, the film explores allegations of war crimes committed in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Chile, Cyprus, and Vietnam during Kissinger’s tenure as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

The film uses archive footage, music, interviews, and analysis to present the case against Kissinger. While Hitchens and other like-minded figures argue for his culpability, the documentary also features defenders of Kissinger’s policies and legacy. The result is a robust and nuanced debate that does not shy away from the unflinching accusations of its source material.

Featuring forceful direction by Eugene Jarecki, wide-ranging lines of inquiry from its talking heads, and scathing narration by actor Brian Cox, the film was described upon release by Newsday as ‘required viewing for every American, especially now’.