Kissinger

Few in American history inspire such polarized reactions as Henry Kissinger—awarded the Nobel Peace Prize yet condemned as an architect of mass death.

This PBS documentary traces Kissinger's journey from fleeing Nazi Germany as a Jewish refugee to becoming the most powerful non-elected figure in U.S. foreign policy history. The film examines his monumental achievements—opening China, negotiating détente with the Soviet Union, ending the Vietnam War—alongside his devastating legacy: the secret bombing of Cambodia, supporting the coup in Chile, and overlooking widespread human rights abuses in pursuit of Cold War strategy.

The documentary presents both reverent admiration and seething contempt, allowing viewers to grapple with Kissinger's contradictions.