Soul Patrol

United States2026100 minEnglish

Directing Award: US Documentary

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.

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Directing Award: US Documentary

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).

U.S. Documentary CompetitionAll FeaturesBIPOC StoriesBiographyInternationalNonfictionSuitable For All AgesAudio DescriptionClosed CaptionOpen CaptionU.S. Only- less

Credits

Director(s)
J.M. Harper
Producer
Sam Bisbee
Danielle Massie
J.M. Harper
Nasir Jones
Peter Bittenbender
Executive Producer
Ed Emanuel
Joe Plummer
Jenifer Westphal
Stacey Reiss
Lance Acord
Jackie Kelman Bisbee
Cody Ryder
Lauren Driscoll
John Driscoll
Jenny Raskin
Kelsey Koenig
Davis Guggenheim
Rahdi Taylor
Andrew Gertler
Max Allman
Cinematographer
Logan Triplett
Editors
Byron Leon
Niles Howard
Gabriela Tessitore

Company
Park Pictures
Website
https://parkpictures.com/features
Contact
Danielle Massie
danielle@parkpictures.com

Meet the Artist

J.M. Harper

J.M. Harper is a Brooklyn-based director and father of two. A multi-hyphenate documentarian, he has edited four features, including the Emmy-nominated Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy. His directorial debut, As We Speak, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. He is a DOC NYC 40 Under 40 and a Concordia Studio and Film Independent Amplifier fellow.

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