Firstly, this is a fantastic story. Manna from heaven for any radio producer. It could so easily have been called 'Homer's Odyssey' - a Vietnam veteran called Homer kills a Vietnamese soldier and thirty-six years later sends back to the soldier's family the letters and documents taken from his body. There is some truely wonderful and moving material in this programme. Weaving between accounts from the Vietnamese family and from Homer and his acquaintances. Both sides to the story are told. For once a face to the enemy. Yes, flesh and blood like anyone else.
I do thoroughly recommend this programme and so why haven't I given it five stars? Because it could have been an exceptional piece of radio.
It falls short because, despite the great use of music (although sometimes too long) and the high production values, it's just not tight enough. For my ear, the narrative was too intrusive and broke the power. It invaded a highly charged space. I would love to hear this programme edited down to half an hour. Then I'd willingly give it five stars plus.