Shinya Tsukamoto’s new film, *Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?*, centers on the story of Allen Nelson, a Vietnam War veteran who overcame severe PTSD and became a public speaker in Japan. The film explores Nelson’s experiences both during the war and in therapy, attempting to depict the psychological toll of combat.
The film is based on a nonfiction account of Allen Nelson, who gave over 1,200 talks in Japan about the “brutalities he committed” during his time in Vietnam. Director Shinya Tsukamoto attended one of these lectures, which he states profoundly impacted his understanding of violence and inspired the film. The movie oscillates between scenes of wartime atrocities and Nelson’s family life as he deals with shell shock, eventually finding some relief through intensive therapy.
The story is told through flashbacks, contrasting Nelson as a father, portrayed by veteran stage actor Rodney Hicks, with his experiences as a young marine, played by Mark Merphy. The film depicts Nelson’s initial training, his deployment to Vietnam, and a devastating ambush where members of his primarily Black platoon were killed. Following the ambush, the squad is ordered to retaliate against villages, resulting in the massacre of farmers, women, and children.
The film also features Geoffrey Rush as Dr. Neil Daniels, Nelson’s therapist, who guides him through difficult explorations of his past, including a childhood marked by poverty and abuse. Tsukamoto himself served as the writer, director, cinematographer, and editor for the 1 hour and 56 minute film. The film suggests that psychotherapy may be the only path to recovery from such trauma.
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