Journey from the Fall, A Film by Ham Tran
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—director Ham Tran’s award-winning feature film, Journey from the Fall, follows one family’s struggle for freedom.
Time:
Saturday, March 31, 2007, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Location:
Meyer Auditorium
Freer Gallery of Art
12th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
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 United States 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.
An overflowing audience caught this spectacular film before its national spring release. For those who didn’t make it on time, look for the film on DVD or video. You surely will not be disappointed!
The event was co-sponsored by the Freer and Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, and ImaginAsian Pictures.
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