Like I recently wrote in our DVD review for Charlie Wilson’s War, I’m surprised that the story of former Texas congressman Charlie Wilson and his efforts to help the Afghani rebels defeat the Soviets in the 1980s has taken so long to become public. The real story behind Charlie Wilson’s personal war against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is nothing short of remarkable. If it weren’t for Wilson’s covert efforts to fund the Afghani rebels, we might not have seen the fall of the Berlin Wall. That’s how significant Charlie Wilson is when looking back to the history of America in the 20th Century. To appreciate Charlie Wilson, you first need to understand his true story, which recently hit the DVD market in April thanks to A&E and The History Channel.

Back in December of 2007, to coincide with the theatrical release of director Mike Nichols’ big screen translation of journalist George Crile’s book, Charlie Wilson’s War, The History Channel aired the two-hour documentary called The True Story of Charlie Wilson. Through narration and recreations plus candid thoughts from Charlie Wilson, the movie’s writer Aaron Sorkin, Houston activist Joanne Herring, CIA agents and chiefs, task force agents, politicians, friends (even the real belly dancer from the movie), and several key players in Wilson’s covert campaign, the true story of Charlie Wilson emerges in both an entertaining and revealing manner.

From his early days as a playboy and being known as "Good-time Charlie" to his trip to Afghanistan and his visit to a refugee camp where it all began plus the congressional investigation into Charlie’s alleged drug use in Las Vegas, no stone is left unturned in the documentary. After deciding to help fund the Afghani rebels, Wilson flew below the establishment to get what he needed in order to strike deals with the Pakistani government, the Egyptians and Saudis as well, before clandestinely subtly rallying the Republicans around his cause for the greater good of both the Afghan people and America at large.

Although the many recreations give the documentary a bubbly, lightweight and contemporary tone in spots, often eliciting the visual flair of C.S.I. (namely Charlie’s famous hot tub experience in Vegas), viewers are reminded of the campaign’s serious nature via stark and graphic archival news footage of the bloodshed of the Soviet - Afghan conflict. Despite its entertainment value, the true story of Wilson’s covert campaign is filled with an explicit realism that you don’t see in the movie. Although some of it might be hard to look at, it is integral to the impact and effectiveness of the documentary. Combined with news footage and commentary from the real players involved, The True Story of Charlie Wilson covers the riveting events of Wilson’s covert efforts from front to back, including several challenges and obstacles not seen in the movie, namely the dynamics surrounding the real European seduction of Maryland congressman Doc Long, a meeting in Paris, and Charlie’s marriage proposal to Joanne Herring.

As much as I liked the movie, The True Story of Charlie Wilson is the complete package and a necessary must-watch if you’re looking to delve deeper into the life of one of America’s most remarkable and subtle heroes.