From deep behind enemy lines, a hidden chapter of American military history is uncovered, prompting the question of whether reckoning with the past can bring peace to those who lived it. The Vietnam War’s first Black special operations team reunites to tell their story.

As a teenager, Ed Emanuel proudly joined the military and marveled at the world from his first ever plane to Vietnam. When the flight captain announced Bobby Kennedy’s assassination, a dreadful new reality struck Emanuel — the fight for the civil rights of his own people was sparking to a new level.

So, what the hell was he doing in Saigon?

Soul Patrol is an immersive journey through the identity crisis of what it meant to be a “soul brother” fighting in Vietnam. Director J.M. Harper crafts precious archival footage, reenactments, and testimonies to awaken a history that has disappeared behind narratives of imperial legacy and military stoicism. Soul Patrol is a radiant journey through shame and isolation, as Emanuel reunites his team, attempting to heal their common trauma. — SF

Available in person. Also available online for the public (January 29–February 1) and credentialed press and industry (January 28–February 1).