Directed by:
Timothy Linh BuiScreenplay:
Timothy Linh BuiCinematography:
Kramer MorgenthauCast:
Patrick Swayze, Forest Whitaker, Hiep Thi Le, Kieu Chinh, Kathleen Luong, Joe Ho, Long Nguyen, Dan Navarro, Tuan Tran, Elyse Dinh, Erv ImmemanPlots(1)
In 1975, refugee camps were set up across the deserts of the United States to house an exodus of over 100,000 Vietnamese immigrants before and immediately after the fall of Saigon.
When Tai (Don Duong) arrives at Camp Pendleton, he is confronted by a camp filled with despair. Jim Lance (Patrick Swayze) is the Marine in charge of housing the refugees until sponsors can be found to help them assimilate into American life. Lance quickly commissions Tai, who speaks English, to translate for him. Prepare to embark on a remarkable journey as an unlikely bond of friendship is formed between two men from opposite sides of one of the world's most infamous and bloodiest wars.
(official distributor synopsis)
Reviews (1)
Green Dragon is an example of a film where its social function plays a significant role. It was created as a kind of reconciliation with the ghosts of the past because the Vietnam conflict had an extraordinarily large (not only) psychological impact on both countries. On the American side, there were 65,000 dead and missing, and the loss of the status of an unbeatable superpower, while on the Vietnamese side, there were around 2 million dead and a devastated country. It is interesting that 25 years after the end of the conflict, Vietnam forgot about the former irreconcilable hostilities and participated in a co-production, depicting the fates of its former ideological enemies. There is no trace of political rivalry in the film, as it is a portrayal of the frustration of immigrants who have lost their homes and have concerns about the future. The camp commander has more than just understanding, and a positive atmosphere clearly prevails in the movie. Unfortunately, the execution is only average. The dialogues are at times bookish, of the type "fate has treated me cruelly, but just like my homeland, I will overcome everything." Forest Whitaker's character is truly unnecessary despite all the sympathy he tries to evoke, and overall, it is a typical average film. However, Patrick Swayze got one of the few opportunities in his long career to play an interesting character role. Overall impression: 55%.
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Gallery (30)
Photo © Columbia TriStar
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