Journey from the Fall

If you really want to see a movie about the aftermath of the Vietnam War, this is truly the only one that exists. No one has seen what happened to the Vietnamese who remained after the fall of Saigon. This movie shows it. Excellently acted and shot, it is a masterpiece that needs to be seen by everyone because you truly don't know what war is about until you see how it affects everyone involved during and after the war.

Kieu Chinh once again gives a fantastic performance. This veteran actor has only improved with age and I am happy to see that her talents are still in high demand. Long Nguyen gives an amazing performance as the prisoner of war who is placed in a re-education camp. First-time actor Diem Lien is excellent in the role of Mai. I hope to see her in more films in the future.

There is no objectionable language or nudity. Images of war and violence do occur (obviously) in the film.

i could not stop crying through the film, and i am not a crybaby. this case was different because it is the story of the refugees and the people that were left behind. i know it hit me deep down because i finally got to see a beautiful film about the struggles of my parents and grandparents. i hope that everyone else will still feel the impact of this story that is based on true events because it was a very difficult time for all the vietnamese families who lived through the war. my parents have yet to go back to viet nam and this film makes we want to take the journey for them to see their home land which they still love and had to leave behind, although we know it has changed a lot in thirty years. even to this day my parents are reconnecting with people they new in viet nam and they are all over the place, here in southern California, also in northern California, Texas and in new york.

First I must add that I am an Vietnamese (American Born) growing up without the strong Vietnamese community ties and a little of the isolation and cruelty depicted in the movie. This movie gave me a visual of some of the stories that my father could not talk too much about and others that I could have never have known about if it weren't for talking to people that I met over the years, who spoke of refugee camps and such. I could identity with at most half of the movie personally... So there is still some objectivity in terms of how I view the quality of the movie. The cinematography was dramatic and you could see the camera work reflected the different times and places vividly. I can only say that you should watch it... as much as you are moved to watch Schindler's list and movies similar (as this movie is commonly compared to for the Vietnamese Diaspora)... this movie takes a single POV of a family and the interactions between people that intertwine. It is a dynamic movie and every actor, how big or small a role, even those of the officer in the camp, are so strong. A conversation between two minor older actors was so touching and helped established the heart of the story. The time line jumps are disorienting, you are caught off guard why some events happen much like a season of Lost, but by now... you know the broad story of the Boat People and the Vietnam War. The movie depicts the time in between that the news doesn't carry and the time jumps help carry the POV of each actors view.

If you go... bring tissues and be prepared to be changed when you leave the theater.

This amazingly poignant film is very much overdue. For over thirty years the film industry has put out the same films of the Vietnam War. Each one focusing on the American point of view. Each one forgetting to mention the Vietnamese people who were also affected.

I encourage everyone, of all backgrounds, to watch this movie. It's not only moving but cinematically beautiful. Through this movie, I was able to see my parents' journey to America brought to life. Their words were illustrated and their feelings conveyed through motion picture. While watching the movie, I couldn't help but feel fortunate to be alive in a country where I am free and fortunate that my parents made it through their journey. My parents and many like them, made an ultimate sacrifice, to leave behind their home, their loves, their family -in search of freedom and opportunity in America. Through the movie, I was reminded of a mother's ultimate undying love for her child, a father's unconditional love for his daughter, and the unbreakable bond of family, culture and tradition.

One of the character's mentioned that we can never forget our past…those words never struck truer. No matter what country I reside in, what culture I am raised in, what nation I chose to adopt as my own –I will never forget the sacrifices of my parents', the oppression and degradation of my grandparents and the loss of freedom of my ancestors. I am and forever will be a Vietnamese-American…and proud.

I hope with the release of this film, others will understand the struggle of the Vietnamese people after the war. American troops were not the only ones affected. Although their struggle and pain is undeniable, there were millions of people who were also affected -citizens of Viet Nam were killed, and their rights stripped of them and to this day, they still struggle.

I hope viewers understand the rage and angst Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans have buried deep within each of us. I also hope this film allows the older Vietnamese generation to have faith that the younger generation is proud and appreciative of our roots. We will not forget…we will continue the struggle towards freedom for our forefathers…for ourselves and we will always keep the memories alive.

Thanks to director Ham Tran for such a wonderful film. He is so young, yet incredibly talented. The risks and sacrifice he took for this movie somewhat resembles that of a hero in our community…which is quite a rare trait.

Please see this movie and learn from the lessons...you don't need to be Vietnamese to see it, you just need to be human.

I viewed this masterpiece on its premiere. To my surprise, EVERYBODY in the theater broke down because the movie is unmistakably powerful. Even for those who are of other ethnic backgrounds could feel the movie.

Its a beautiful movie about struggle, pain, love, and the conflicts of the war. When viewing this film, its impossible NOT to cry because the actors are GREAT.After the premiere, I have had a fortunate chance to meet LONG, (the main character) and this is his second film! It's unbelievable what the Vietnamese went through. I, being Vietnamese my self didn't have to read the subtitles (obviously) so warning to those who have not seen the movie, be ready for the subtitles.

For those who like war movies, this would be a little different due to that it shows the ugly side of war, and what one must do to cope with loss, separation, etc.

This is based on TRUE events, and is finally being told for the first time. I am truly glad this movie was made because it can be viewed by my family and friends for years to come. It'll be in my DVD collection when it comes out!