"Let the sunshine in..."
synopsis
A young Oklahoma recruit heading to Vietnam befriends a tribe of counterculture hippies in New York City, leading to a collision between free-spirited idealism and military obligation.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Director Miloš Forman reimagines the stage show with cinematic fluidity, reshaping structure while preserving its anarchic spirit. The final act lands with unexpected emotional force. It’s messy in places — appropriately so — but alive, urgent, and visually liberated.
Late night, volume up, and a mood for bittersweet rebellion.
Absurdist's Corner
A carefree dance tribe drifts through Central Park as if Vietnam were a rumor rather than an inevitability — until fate rearranges identities with tragic irony. The exuberance and impending doom coexist in surreal tension.
fun facts
The film significantly rearranged the stage musical’s narrative.
Many scenes were shot guerrilla-style in New York.
The finale at Arlington National Cemetery was emotionally devastating for audiences.
Forman had previously directed One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.