Platoon Leader

War is hell. This was worse...

Directed by Aaron Norris

Produced by The Cannon Group, Breton Film Productions

A gritty Vietnam War drama about a young officer's baptism by fire and the moral ambiguities of combat, where survival and respect come at a heavy cost.

West Point graduate lieutenant Jeff Knight meets cynicism when taking command of sergeant Michael McNamara's tour veterans platoon in a Vietnamese trench camp. Unlike his predecessor, who hid till the end of his tour, Jeff takes charge, experiences the manual doesn't allow coping with all realities and gets wounded. He returns, now fully respect by men and superiors. Besides the Vietcong, the platoon wrestles with the inscrutable villagers, which the G.I.'s officially protect, but also fear as some collaborate with them, other covertly with the Cong, either way subject to bloody reprisals.