http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2005/10/499101/

Vietnamese-American director shows AO victims now

11:02' 12/10/2005 (GMT+7)

Director Vu Tran.

VietNamNet – Vietnamese-American director Vu Tran is spending his own money on a documentary about Agent Orange victims in Quang Nam Province, named Agent Orange. VietNamNet talked with Tran about his desire to raise awareness of their plight.

Being away from Vietnam so long ago, did you understand the contemporary life and situation of AO victims before you made the film?

I was born in Da Nang. I left Vietnam when I was nine years old. Spending most of that time in the US, knew about the war only from books.

Then, in May 2005, as I was about to graduate from the US’ Minneapolis College of Art and Design, I saw a photo of a child AO victim who was writing with her feet. She had no arms. The photo touched me so much and encouraged me to produce a film a bout AO victims.

One week after that, with a little money, I returned to Vietnam to do this project. I was taken by the different destinies of these unlucky people, who woke up my sentiment and made me see the connection between myself and them.

Why did you choose Da Nang for the project? 

According to estimates on a map by the BBC News UK edition on February 4, 2004, Quang Nam and Da Nang were the places most seriously affected by AO in Vietnam’s central region. After three months waiting, I was given permission from the Hanoi External Relations Office, and then with help from the Da Nang AO Victim’s Association, I met with 20 AO victims and their families to interview them and make the film.

Has anyone else produced the same project? How is your film different?

A scene in the film.

Two foreign documentary films have already been made. The Friendship Village and Canadian director Michelle Mason worked on a project about a group of international veterans returning to Vietnam to help Vietnamese children affected by AO. The other film, Battle’s Poison Cloud, by director Cecile Trijssenaar, is about human embryos deformed by the toxin.

My film is about the life, suffering and will of AO victims to survive their situation 30 years later. Through the film, I want people to sympathize more and share in their destinies.

It is very difficult for me to compare my film to others. I think documentary is a way to learn culture and history, which can help people, especially young Americans, learn more and understand the problem.

As far as I know, no other Vietnamese-overseas directors have done a similar project. I do not know why? If some foreigners can do this, why don’t I?

Having studied in the cradle of modern cinema technology, what methods will you use and how will you arrange production of the film?

I know contemporary cinema is very modern and uses very modern techniques. But I think it is just used in feature films and not in documentaries, which must be exact and true to the natural setting. It is not just a simple entertaining product.

I think we can use high technique for documentary films, but in the future. It is more important that documentary films touch viewers and raise awareness.

When the film is ready, how will you distribute it?

I will bring it to the US and screen universities there, and attend International Film Festival 2006. If it generates any revenues, I’ll use them to help child AO victims go to school.

PV