Jimmy in Saigon
- Website
- Official Website
- Other Links
Videos
Overview
- Genre
- Portrait, Human Interest, Personal Doc, Investigation, and Social Issues
- Synopsis
Director Peter McDowell was only five when his brother died, and much about Jimmy’s death remained hidden from him. Through over 200 of Jim’s letters, interviews with Jim’s friends and family, and filming of the truth-seeking journey that has led Peter across the United States, Vietnam and France, Jimmy in Saigon is an elegiac work examining grief, family secrets, war, drug use, sexuality, and healing.
Jimmy grew up in Champaign, Illinois, and was drafted in 1970. After serving a tour of duty, Jimmy returned to Saigon even as the war continued. During the year he lived in Saigon – the last year of his life – Jimmy worked as a reporter for the The Overseas Weekly, and lived with a Vietnamese family. On the night of June 5th, 1972, Jimmy checked in to an American military hospital with a serious infection. He was dead the next morning.
After more than 40 years of silence, Peter tells Jimmy’s story while discovering his own.
- Stage
- finished
- Running time
- 89 minutes
Credits
- Peter F McDowell ... Director, Producer
- Peter W Schulman ... Producer
- Lucia Palmarini ... Producer
Production Details
- Prod. Co.
- Jimmy in Saigon, LLC
- Country
- United States
- Years of Production
- 2010-Present
- Locations
- Unites States, France, Vietnam
Distribution Details
- Release year
- 2022
- Festivals
- British Film Institute's Flare Festival, London; OUTShine Miami; AVFest Sonoma California.
- Awards
- Selected as one of "Best of Fest" at BFI Flare for repeat screening
- Language
- English
- Subtitles
- English, Italian
Photos
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