How "Da 5 Bloods" Redefines "What's Going On"
In Spike Lee's new Netflix film "Da 5 Bloods", the Vietnamese war is given a new perspective from black soldiers. It follows 4 veterans returning to South Vietnam in the modern day to retrieve the body of their fallen leader, Stormin' Norman. Throughout the film, the music of soul legend Marvin Gaye is used to accent and underscore many scenes. In fact, almost every song used in the film comes from "What's Going On", Gaye's protest album released in response to the Vietnam war.
In this video, I'd like to look at why Lee made this choice and the album ties into the themes of the film and the events of the story.
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