JOURNEY FROM THE FALL
okay, i've posted this movie all over facebook but the crusade doesn't end there...
from my facebook note:
Last friday I went to see a movie with the Columbia VSA, entitled "Journey from the Fall." It follows the lives of a Vietnamese family after the fall of Saigon (capital of South Vietnam) in 1975, from the incarceration of the father in a Communist "re-education" (POW) camp, to his family's escape to the US by boat.
official blurb:
"Inspired by the true stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled their land after the fall of Saigon-and those who were forced to stay behind, Journey From The Fall follows one family’s struggle for freedom.
April 30, 1975 marked the end of Vietnam's two-decade-old civil war and the start of the exodus of hundreds of thousands of refugees. Despite his allegiance to the toppled South Vietnamese government, Long Nguyen (as Long Nguyen) decides to remain in Vietnam. Imprisoned in a Communist re-education camp, he urges his family to make the escape by boat without him. His wife Mai (Diem Lien), son Lai (Nguyen Thai Nguyen) and mother Ba Noi (Kieu Chinh) then embark on the arduous ocean voyage in the hope of reaching the U.S. and freedom.
Back in Vietnam, Long suffers years of solitary confinement and hard labor, and finally despairs that his family has perished. But news of their successful resettlement in America inspires him to make one last desperate attempt to join them."
This movie has deeply touched me because my family went through a similar experience to get to the US. I cried through the whole movie and my eyes were still swollen the next morning, because seeing it on the screen really brought their struggle to life for me.
I encourage everyone to see this movie for a number of reasons. If you have Vietnamese friends (or are Vietnamese yourself), this movie is a great way to begin understanding the past and where we Vietnamese-Americans come from. Another reason is that people often only get see two sides of the Vietnam War: those of the US and the North Vietnamese. However, the Vietnamese refugees who fled Vietnam, the Vietnamese you know here in America, are South Vietnamese, who fought alongside the Americans for Vietnam's freedom. Our story is often minimized in the dialogue about the war, and I think this is a great way to change that. Finally, if nothing else... this film is very artistic and well-made, not to mention the beautiful cinematography and the superb acting.
So please, if this film is coming to your city, consider watching it. I think it will be well worth your time.
GO SEE THIS MOVIE:
(trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e84lOfQH0FM )
NOW PLAYING
SAN JOSE, CA: Camera 12
NEW YORK, NY: The ImaginAsian (MUST END 3/29/2007)
GARDEN GROVE, CA: Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16
WESTMINSTER, CA: Edwards Westminster 10
STARTING 3/30/2007
HOUSTON, TX: Cinemark Tinseltown Westchase
DALLAS (GARLAND), TX: Cinemark Hollywood USA Movies 15
DALLAS (GRAND PRAIRIE), TX: Cinemark Movies 16
STARTING 3/31/2007
WASHINGTON, DC: Meyer Auditorium, Freer Gallery of Art Smithsonian Institution
STARTING 4/13/2007
CHICAGO (EVANSTON), IL: Century 12 Evanston/CinéArts 6
STARTING 4/20/2007
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: 4 Star Theatre
They're still adding more so check the film's website for more details.
http://www.journeyfromthefall.com/Theaters.aspx
from my facebook note:
Last friday I went to see a movie with the Columbia VSA, entitled "Journey from the Fall." It follows the lives of a Vietnamese family after the fall of Saigon (capital of South Vietnam) in 1975, from the incarceration of the father in a Communist "re-education" (POW) camp, to his family's escape to the US by boat.
official blurb:
"Inspired by the true stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled their land after the fall of Saigon-and those who were forced to stay behind, Journey From The Fall follows one family’s struggle for freedom.
April 30, 1975 marked the end of Vietnam's two-decade-old civil war and the start of the exodus of hundreds of thousands of refugees. Despite his allegiance to the toppled South Vietnamese government, Long Nguyen (as Long Nguyen) decides to remain in Vietnam. Imprisoned in a Communist re-education camp, he urges his family to make the escape by boat without him. His wife Mai (Diem Lien), son Lai (Nguyen Thai Nguyen) and mother Ba Noi (Kieu Chinh) then embark on the arduous ocean voyage in the hope of reaching the U.S. and freedom.
Back in Vietnam, Long suffers years of solitary confinement and hard labor, and finally despairs that his family has perished. But news of their successful resettlement in America inspires him to make one last desperate attempt to join them."
This movie has deeply touched me because my family went through a similar experience to get to the US. I cried through the whole movie and my eyes were still swollen the next morning, because seeing it on the screen really brought their struggle to life for me.
I encourage everyone to see this movie for a number of reasons. If you have Vietnamese friends (or are Vietnamese yourself), this movie is a great way to begin understanding the past and where we Vietnamese-Americans come from. Another reason is that people often only get see two sides of the Vietnam War: those of the US and the North Vietnamese. However, the Vietnamese refugees who fled Vietnam, the Vietnamese you know here in America, are South Vietnamese, who fought alongside the Americans for Vietnam's freedom. Our story is often minimized in the dialogue about the war, and I think this is a great way to change that. Finally, if nothing else... this film is very artistic and well-made, not to mention the beautiful cinematography and the superb acting.
So please, if this film is coming to your city, consider watching it. I think it will be well worth your time.
GO SEE THIS MOVIE:
(trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e84lOfQH0FM )
NOW PLAYING
SAN JOSE, CA: Camera 12
NEW YORK, NY: The ImaginAsian (MUST END 3/29/2007)
GARDEN GROVE, CA: Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16
WESTMINSTER, CA: Edwards Westminster 10
STARTING 3/30/2007
HOUSTON, TX: Cinemark Tinseltown Westchase
DALLAS (GARLAND), TX: Cinemark Hollywood USA Movies 15
DALLAS (GRAND PRAIRIE), TX: Cinemark Movies 16
STARTING 3/31/2007
WASHINGTON, DC: Meyer Auditorium, Freer Gallery of Art Smithsonian Institution
STARTING 4/13/2007
CHICAGO (EVANSTON), IL: Century 12 Evanston/CinéArts 6
STARTING 4/20/2007
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: 4 Star Theatre
They're still adding more so check the film's website for more details.
http://www.journeyfromthefall.com/Theaters.aspx