The film, loosely based on Douglas Brinkley’s book “Tour of Duty,” comes at an important time. It is a vivid account of the man and his character and the impressive background that he brings to his public life. The film also is a painful reminder of the Vietnam era, and a recollection of the bravery of veterans who, having fought and seen their buddies killed, and in many cases suffered wounds themselves, protested in Washington in the face of opposition by the Nixon administration and how they tossed dearly earned medals over a fence meant to block them.

Butler details Kerry’s military service and gives the lie to the sleazy campaign attack led by the same man Nixon has chosen to denigrate him during the Vietnam War protests. The film emerges as an important movie biography, enriched by interviews with key people and an array of fascinating clips. There is historical importance to the work, as the country has never dealt properly with the Vietnam War. The fact is we were defeated, and the failure to come to terms with this honestly has let fester the notion that maybe we could have won and revisionist claims that it was a just war. Nevertheless, the soldiers who fought deserve to be ever-honored for having served, and one of the most moving experiences is to walk along the memorial wall in Washington.