Product Details

• Directors: Rick Ray
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: September 12, 1996
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1879587033
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,226 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #2 in	Video > Special Interests > Travel > Asia > Vietnam
  #93 in	Video > Documentary > Independently Distributed

Editorial Reviews

National Geographic Society, March 6, 2003

"..without reservation, Ray's work exceeds the industry's highest standards for cinematography and editing, script writing, sound recording or editing....."

Product Description

This is the original version of the much heralded "Raising The Bamboo Curtain" narrated and produced by legendary travel filmmaker Rick Ray. (Rick later sold partial rights to this program to another producer who hired Martin Sheen to narrate - that cut down and rewritten version is not the same). Sneaking his cameras past Burmese and Cambodian customs officials and getting around the country to produce one of the best travel docs ever made, Rick has outdone himself - again!

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, realistic, non-pedantic, November 23, 1999

By A Customer

Travel videos aren't really my cup of tea, but as a former resident of Cambodia and Vietnam (1997) I gave this one a try. What a surprise that Bamboo Curtain turned out to be a balanced and realistic depiction of the contemporary cultures in the region, illustrating both its incredibly beautiful and otherwordly sides, and also a very well-informed view of the dark side (pointing out, for example, that the beggars in Saigon are often paid "employees" of local gangsters and that the city's cyclo drivers are frequently English-speaking former South Vietnamese soldiers now forced to the very bottom rung of the economic ladder). I haven't been to Burma yet, but this video sure makes me want to go. And I know from the Cambodia and Vietnam segments that Burma is probably quite similar to the way it's depicted here. This is not a "where to go, what to eat" sort of video, it really *does* provide practical and, I think, realistic insight into the contemporary cultures of these three countries. It is dated a few years by the "Asian Tiger" mentality - Vietnam's economic growth has in fact been stifled by its monumentally backward Stalinist government - but its a small point in an otherwise very well-done introduction to SE Asia. The narration and introduction by Martin Sheen is a very nice touch.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A True Southeast Asia - 5 years Ago, February 4, 2000

By A Customer

I am planning a trip to Burma. I found the production quality excellent and the information well presented. I wish that something of this quality was even more recently made. I know Vietnam, having visited in 1999. The Vietnam segment is an excellent view of the people, history, and sights. Much of what is foretold in this 5-year old video is happening today. I can highly recommend this set as part of your learning about these countries.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, well presented documentary, October 22, 2001

By	Steven Clark (Utah United States) - See all my reviews

I thought this video presented all three countries quite well. I was watching it for information on Burma so I was a little disappointed that the Burma segment wasn't longer but that's all right. He did a great job showing us their cultures as well as their tough situations they've delt with or are dealing with today. The only bad thing was occasionally Rick would make cheesy comments! All in all..it's a entertaining and informative film.