

Basic Training
Directed by Frederick Wiseman1971 89mDocumentary
7.3100%6.8
Frederick Wiseman observes basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky in the Vietnam era. Recruits are seen receiving instructions on everything from brushing their teeth to killing enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand combat.
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Basic Training Ratings & Reviews
- Mister ArnJuly 23, 2025“Basic Training”, directed by Frederick Wiseman, is a stark, unscripted documentary that immerses viewers in the daily grind of Army basic training at Fort Knox during the Vietnam War era. There are no actors or narration, just observational footage. Drill instructors shout, recruits struggle through drills, and the slow shaping of individuals into soldiers unfolds in quiet, often unsettling detail. It isn’t an easy watch, but it’s a revealing one.
Basic Training Trivia
Basic Training was released on June 1, 1971.
Basic Training was directed by Frederick Wiseman.
Basic Training has a runtime of 89m.
Basic Training was produced by Frederick Wiseman.
Frederick Wiseman observes basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky in the Vietnam era. Recruits are seen receiving instructions on everything from brushing their teeth to killing enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand combat.
Basic Training is a Documentary film.
Basic Training has an audience rating of 10 out of 10.


