The Most Secret Place on Earth - The CIA's Covert War in Laos
- Nominee for North Gertman Film Prize (2009)
- Nominee for Gold Panda Award in category Best Director (2009)
- Nominee for Banff World Media Award in category Best Political Documentary (2010)
- Nominee for TRT Documentary Award (2010)
- Theatrical release in Germany (2009)
The Secret War was the largest operation ever conducted by the CIA, yet to this day hardly anyone knows anything about it. Critics call it the biggest war crime of the Vietnam War era and point to striking similarities to the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; similarities that were tested and set in motion back in Laos in the 1960s.
The film takes us on a journey into the physical heart of the conflict - top secret Long Cheng where the CIA built its headquarters in 1962. It was from this base that the Secret War was largely planned and executed. As the war dragged on, Long Cheng became the busiest airbase in the world and a major center for the global opium and heroin trade. As we journey into Long Cheng for the first time, the film reconstructs the gripping story of the operation and illustrates its relevance to current American conflicts.
Team Partner
Christian Beetz, producer
Eva Rink, producer
Producer / Production Details
Gebrueder Beetz in association with NDR/ARTE, ARD/WDR, ARD/NDR, Al Jazeera International, ARTE
Supported by Filmförderung HHSH, Filmstiftung NRW, MEDIA
Distributed by Zweitausendeins