Customer Reviews

Journey From the Fall

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When the credits run at the end of this film, director and writer Ham Tran (a graduate of UCLA 's film school) dedicates his wrenching drama to the millions of ordinary citizens who fled Vietnam on boats (the "boat people") or who, having stayed behind out of loyalty to their country, were subjected to horrific "re-education" camps because they dared to oppose the "revolution." The story begins with the fall of Vietnam to the communists on April 30, 1975, and ends in Orange County, California in 1981. Tran follows the harrowing fate and fortunes of one family (and in various sub-plots their friends). The father, Long, is imprisoned in successive re-education camps. He insists that his wife, mother, and son flee on the overcrowded, rickety boats. And so a deeply loving family is rent asunder. The communists in their brutality, observes the grandmother, "have lost their humanity." I won't spoil the film by revealing what happens to the family, only to say that the challenge of immigrating to the US is as arduous as surviving as a refugee. The film has won awards at sixteen film festivals. In Vietnamese with English subtitles.

Directed and written by Ham Tran, "Journey from the Fall," is a very emotional film. The films narrative is based on fictional characters, but in a sense these characters are representative of the millions of South Vietnamese who were displaced, forced to leave their country, or sent to re-education camps after the fall of Saigon. The film reminded me in many ways of "The Killing Fields" starring the late Haing S. Ngor. And while "The Killing Fields" dealt with Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge, it has much in common with the film "Journey from the Fall," in that it deals with the aftermath of Americas absence from Southeast Asia, and what befell those who were left behind. In this particular film, the director weaves three main narratives into the film.

One of these narratives revolves around the father Long (Long Nguyen). It is April 1975, and the North Vietnamese have nearly conquered the South. However, Long believes it is his duty to continue fighting for Saigon until the very end. He tells his wife Mai (Diem Lien) that he must remain behind to carry on the fight, while imploring her to leave for America with their young son Lai (Nguyen Thai Nguyen) and the grandmother Ba Noi (Keiu Chinh). I found the fathers narrative to be the most fascinating in the film. As the film moves forward, the viewer is witness to the infamous RE-EDUCATION camps that were so prominent with communist regimes. Those who fought in the former government are considered traitors, and as such, they MUST be re-educated along communist dogma---before they are allowed to fit into the new social order of the now reunified country.

The viewer sees the plight of the father as he endures years of imprisonment in the re-education camps, while at the same time, we see the emotional strain this is causing on the rest of the family. Grandmother is excellently cast in her role, as she recounts legendary tales to the young grandchild Lai. Amidst all of the emotional pain the family is going through now that the father is separated from them, is the ever present thought of escape to America. When the family decides the time is right for escape, they encounter a very perilous journey. The director did a very good job with the set designs in the open seas, as you can sense the claustrophobic feeling of the families who are attempting to escape Vietnam in a small fishing boat. Moreover, there is the ever present danger of pirates who prey on the open seas: And this is vividly portrayed in the film.

When the family eventually arrives in America, they encounter the usual hostility newcomers often face. Further, the director shows in both subtle, and not so subtle ways the discrimination that befalls the newcomers in their new home--especially those of the young boy Lai. However, there is more to the film than the families escape to America. We see the constant perils of those who are in the re-education camps and their hopes of finally gaining freedom. For while the director shows those who have finally found freedom, he also gives us a glimpse of many others who are still in the re-education camps who firmly believe and hope that they will one day be released, or will release themselves through bribery or escape from the camps. Will the father finally find freedom? I don't wish to divulge too much in this review, as there are some very important parts of the film I did not explore, which will only ruin the film for you. I recommend the film highly. For a more in-depth review, I recommend viewers take a look at the reviewer Woopak's review. He has given an outstanding review of the film. [Stars: 4.5]

Okay, so I'm a sucker for human interest stories. But this movie blew me away. I remember the Vietnam War because I was almost old enough to be drafted by the end of our involvement in the war. And I remember when some of the boat people moved into our small western Pennsylvania town. Everything else I got from the television news - unfortunately. I had no inkling what those people went through on their various journeys to get to America. All I knew is what I was told by my teachers and what I read in the newspapers.

Recall the 2004 national elections when some left wing politicians said that some of those left behind in South Vietnam - later sent to the Viet Cong re-education camps - fared pretty well. It was like saying the Nazi concentration camps were picnic grounds. And while this movie makes no political statements, it does show how wrong the major media outlets were and have been for a very long time. If you remember that time - 1975 - then you remember what we were led to believe - we were duped by the Walter Cronkites and Jane Fondas of the world.

I don't expect this movie to ever be mentioned at the Academy Awards this coming February. Pity.

This is one beautiful film and more of a tear-jerker per say. Reviewers Ernest and Woopak has already said it best by giving in an extraordinary in-depth review which left me to fem for myself. After watching this tonight I thought Ham Tran's "Journey From the Fall" ought to stand on its own two feet despite offhanded comparisons to Schindler's List . It is by turns a tough and tender survival story of Vietnamese boat people that's more intimate, less remorseful, and not in slightest bit self-righteous. It concerns the plight of the Nguyen family post-Vietnam war: husband Long is imprisoned in a series of grueling re-education camps, forced into hard labour and the regularly fatal practice of clearing landmines; meanwhile his wife, mother and son defect via an overcrowded vessel headed anywhere but `Nam. Initially harrowing and without hope, the film relocates at its mid-point to California in the 80's, where the family have immigrated successfully, albeit uneasily, with the undertow of those left behind a heavy burden to bear.

Crucially, Tran narrows the focus from the outset, allaying the broad chaos and resentment of a war-ravaged country in favour of the closeness of his four affected family members - the universality of their flight bound to resonate with most Vietnamese (9 out of 10 in the US, for instance, either were or knew boat people), as well as anyone who's sought refuge from their tarnished homeland. With a generous budget, this is impressively fielded in scale, yet maintains a modesty that's humbling.

Come to fine out this was financed by producers Stateside, but the American influence is otherwise non-existent: there are no marines or platoons; no embittered war veterans in wheelchairs; nor is there the overbearing presence of an Oliver Stone. He may not admit to it, but "Journey From the Fall" is also Tran's backlash against imperialism: just as Americans are compelled to impose themselves on conflicts overseas, so to are they insistent on making them into movies from their own perspective. A film about Vietnamese, by Vietnamese, this is an imprint of war that's 30 years overdue, yet fresh off the scenic boat.

Movies can be many things. Some are funny and/or entertaining. But the more important ones are dramatic, educational, or historically significant and profoundly moving. Rarely, very rarely, are we gifted with a movie that combines all the characteristics of that second description into a marvelous whole, and provides an experience that is truly meaningful on several levels.

Journey From The Fall is such a film, combining acting, artistry, a neglected but important bit of history, and a portrayal of the human condition under the most brutal and tragic conditions into a magnificent work that leaves the viewer unsettled, sad, and yet inspired. Made by people who themselves lived that part of history, with painstaking attention to detail that will pull you into a world you have not known, like a walk through Dachau that sears heart and mind.

It reveals in part the cost of abandoning South Viet Nam to conquest by the forces of the communist North, and paints a terribly vivid picture of the heartless cruelty of the "re-education" camps, and the desperate and often traumatic flights of the Boat People. Many scenes in it are not for the fainthearted or delicate, but they are, sadly, only too historically accurate. It follows the often painful readjustment process of those who made it to US shores, and gives the Western viewer some idea of the truly heart-tearing dilemma of people forced to decide whether to stay in the oppressive land of their revered ancestors, or flee to freedom in an alien land.

This is a story which needed to be told, to shine a light on the agony and travail of those victims of the war's end, and the incredible courage of those who tried, sometimes more than once, to escape the awful existence imposed on them by the "liberators" of the South. It serves to honor those who suffered, and help their children growing up in freedom to understand what their parents experienced to bring them to a better life. And it serves to educate the rest of us, and allow us to both understand and respect their experiences, and be inspired by them, and grateful that they have come to add their energy and their spirit to this land.

I had to wait for the DVD to be released on October 30th, but it arrived 3 days later. Not too shabby.
My Vietnamese wife wanted to watch it immediately. As the movie progressed, I found it moving and very well made. The portions that use time-shifting require that you pay attention. My wife (from Can Tho) pointed out many instances where the story closely resembled the way her family members had left Vietnam or their experiences in the "re-education" camps. There was even a part where the North Vietnamese camp commander complains that he was mislead about his relatives poverty living in South Vietnam only to find during his first visit that they actually were better off than he was. The same story was related to me exactly years ago by a co-worker (also from Can Tho) who had spent time in a re-education camp. I have seen some a couple of the actresses in the equally moving "3 Seasons (Ba Mua)" and the cast of this movie is wonderful. I don't want to mention how the story pans out. I think you have to see it and get a sense of what people went through and are currently going through. Have your box of Kleenexes nearby. If you like this movie, also try "Beautiful Country" and "3 Seasons", which are also well-made, moving and informative movies.

This was a very powerful and emotional movie for me due to personal experience. My mom sent me away one of of those boats when I was 14, while my dad was still in re-education camp (translation: hard labor concentration camp). My mom only had enough money for my "ticket" so she and my brothers and sisters all stayed behind. The escape and boat scenes are very similar to what I experienced. I can't say about the re-education camp scenes as I didn't have the privilege of staying in a camp, however I did visit my dad a few times and the depressive atmosphere I remember is very close to what we see in the movie.

The second half of the movie that depicts life in America is very moving for me as well. All boat persons went through those very same experiences: learning a new language, working menial jobs, adjusting to a totally different culture, having chance meetings with people you know from back home, etc.

These chance meetings are more likely than one would think, due to the fact that a large percentage of boat persons eventually migrated to a a few large population centers (Orange County, Houston, etc.). Also since older immigrants never really fit into the new country, they would continue to stay in the immigrant "community" and would always go to the same community events, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.

As powerful a film as it is, it could have greatly benefited from a bigger budget. This last note is more of an observation than a criticism.

I enjoyed this movie very much. Being a "boat person" myself, I can say that this movie pretty accurately portrayed just some of the horrors and struggles of what I and thousands of others went through to escape Vietnam after the war. There were some moments where the the movie switched back and forth in time, but the transitions weren't obvious, which can cause some confusion. Overall though, a definite recommendation.

This is an incredible film. I cannot believe that nearly all the actors and actresses in this film were on camera for the first time. There is so much real emotion because they actually went through the post-war Vietnamese experience themselves.

The cinematography is gorgeous and the music is also beautiful. The artwork for the DVD is also beautiful. I cannot reccomend this film enough.

The only thing I find lacking is a Vietnamese subtitle track.

Seldom have I seen a film that almost brought me to tears. This film by writer/director Ham Tran did, and believe me when I say it is no easy task for me to be so moved and touched by a film. "Journey from the Fall" is a tale about the "boat people" from Vietnam, I've never seen a film that absolutely, accurately portrayed the harrowing experiences of these people. I was extremely lucky to have seen this film in a limited engagement in theaters early this year. (My friend Ken Lee has been relentless in convincing me to see this film, I'm very happy he did!)

The story revolves around a fictional family (based on real people) who because of the father's decisiveness to stay and defend Saigon from its invaders during the Vietnam war results in his family's hardships and eminent inner heroism. After the communist side won the war, Long, a husband and a father to a son, was captured and sent to the so-called re-education camps. He urges his wife; Mai, their son Lai and the grandmother to "hop" on the first chance they get to leave for America. Mai, Lai, and the grandmother; Ba Noi manages to reach America with the aid of the boat's captain who has developed a fondness for Mai. Upon, learning that his family has reached safety, Long becomes determined to escape and join his family in America...

The director's hard work and talent is awe-inspiring. I've read that Tran actually interviewed numerous Vietnamese refugees and survivors of the re-education camps, even examined photos to visualize/recreate the brutal re-education camps. His efforts are well worth the wait. The father's character Long's experiences are just the tip of the iceberg. The harrowing set designs of the said camps is very realistic; ironically, the camps have a sign that says; "Nothing is more precious than Freedom". Within these camps, prisoners are brutally abused by the soldiers who guards them, beaten to near-death and locked up in small windowless boxes; heated by the searing heat of the sun during the day and cold in the evening. They are told that they will be released after they've been re-educated but Long fears that he will die within these walls.

Tran doesn't hold back with the graphic nature of this film. Next up, he shows the experiences of Mai, Lai and Ba Noi in a small fishing boat headed for America. The director effectively took me to the dark, cramped space, full of seasick women and kids, so accurately that I almost felt that I was also in the selfsame cramped boat. It was very difficult to watch every painful moan of a sick kid, ailing women, the sequences had that very claustrophobic feel. The folks in the boat are in the mercy of the elements; shifting waves and the weather make their journey very perilous, and to make matters worst, the boat is attacked by pirates who indiscriminately kill, kidnap and rape the women. They tear their children from their mother's arms, all this brutality is very hard to stomach.

After Mai, Lai and Ba Noi finally do make it to America, settling in Orange County, you may think everything will be fine. Now, they will have to adjust to their new life in a new community where some welcome their presence while others disdain and gives a hint of discrimination towards them. Ba Noi takes care of Lai while Mai works her butt off in a sweatshop. Young Lai also has his own problems when he becomes a target of school bullies. I suppose one may say these hardships are nothing compared to their previous experiences. Once Long hears word of his family's arrival in America, he becomes obsessed and determined in escape.
Does he succeed? Watch the film...

The film's main strengths come from its excellent cast headed by Long Nguyen and Kieu Chinh (Joy Luck Club). Diem Lien is a Vietnamese pop star but in her role as Mai, she proves that she is more than a great voice; she portrays her character convincingly. The entire cast is outstanding; they all give the performances of their lives including the young kid who plays Lai. (In my opinion)

"JOURNEY FROM THE FALL" is a true masterpiece. It takes us from the jungles of Vietnam, to the harrowing experience of the re-education camps and the horrific boat ride to the land of opportunity. Tran's talent shines through with his attention to detail, it shows that he made this film direct from his heart and with loving care. Tran's film is a fitting homage to the real-life tales of those survived this ordeal and gives honor to the survivors after the fall of Saigon; paying tribute to those who lived and those who did not.

As depressing the film's premise may be, I found one strong, very moving message; it is not glamorous and is one of the dogged against all odds lesson of human survival:
" No one is going to help you, you may not be capable and your efforts may end up in failure. But if you may struggle hard enough to survive, then MAYBE your next meal is ALL the reward you will need".
This message may not be pretty, but there is a lot of HONESTY that lasts beyond its end credits.
Nothing...I mean nothing can touch the human spirit....

HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!! (4 ½+ stars)