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At Sundance, ‘Soul Patrol’ Reclaims the Story of Vietnam’s First All-Black LRRP Unit

Critics say rare Super 8 footage with candid testimonies gives the film its force.

Overview

  • Premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the documentary adapts Ed Emanuel’s 2003 memoir and drew strong audience response at its debut.
  • Director J. M. Harper focuses on Company F, 51st Infantry LRRP, reconstructing the unit’s experiences through interviews, personal archives, and stylized reenactments.
  • Reviews praise the film’s act of historical reclamation and its intimate portrait of the veterans’ bond and lasting trauma.
  • Some critics judge the reenactments as uneven compared with the power of the archival material and the men’s own voices.
  • Variety notes a 2024 reunion of surviving members anchors the narrative, while producer Nas publicly backs the project as part of his commitment to engage with history.