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Boat People

Play trailer Poster for Boat People R 1983 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Shiomi Akutagawa (George Lam), a Japanese photojournalist, travels to Vietnam to document life under communist rule. Government officials are all too happy to take him on a tour of villages that are clean, happy and healthy. But Shiomi is restless. He manages to break away from the government tour and sets out on his own. He meets Cam (Season Ma), a young boy, and a villager's mistress (Cora Miao), who become his guides to the Vietnam the government doesn't want anyone to see.

Critics Reviews

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Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia 03/21/2022
Tackles the twin evils of propaganda and state oppression through the eyes of a naïve foreigner. Go to Full Review Matt Brown ScreenAnarchy 02/25/2022
Season Ma's performance as Cam Nuong is the heart of the film, however; never cloying or precious, but always with a keen sense of a lived reality and an ancient-feeling pragmatism. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 12/13/2020
A
A politicized film revealing the human tragedy of war. Go to Full Review Andrew Heskins easternKicks.com 09/24/2020
5/5
Time has hardly lessened the impact of Hui's film, both beautiful and bleak. It's simply outstanding. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pier 02/19/2023 A movie accusing the Vietnamese system of repression that is shot in China, with Chinese dialogues, Chinese actors, at the time of the war between Vietnam and China. Any conflict of interest? See more s r @ScottR 12/24/2020 Fascinating premise. A Chinese film about a Japanese reporter in Vietnam who exposes the shortcomings of communist . It was melodramatic and certainly felt Chinese, but the topic was effectively shown. Saw it on TCM. See more 04/26/2015 In celebration of Ann Hui's record-breaking 5th win of BEST DIRECTOR in HONG KONG FILM AWARDS for her epic THE GOLDEN ERA (2014), which is also the eventual recipient of BEST PICTURE, it is an opportune time to track back her first win at the age of 35 for her fourth feature BOAT PEOPLE, which has established her as a pioneer in the New Wave movement of Hong Kong Cinema. keep reading my review on my blog: http://wp.me/p1eXom-1Sm See more 03/22/2012 Great movie!!Never thought that Ann Hui can direct such an unpeaceful film.All the actors and actress highlight the movie.The script,lighting and music are amazing. See more 07/07/2009 Ann Hui is such an ambitious director. Have tried the best to reveal the brutal fact of the Communist Vietnam. Andy Lau's acting is even better than nowadays, and George's tone is funny. Entertaining and informative picture. See more 03/16/2009 A bit clumsy sometimes in its depiction of Communism but still a very well made and touching story thanks to Ann Hui's talent. See more Read all reviews
Boat People

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ann Hui

Director

George Lam

Shiomi Akutagawa

Cora Miao

Nguyen's Mistress

Season Ma

Cam Nuong

Andy Lau

To Minh

David Chung

Cinematographer
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Boat People

Boat People (1983) Boat People (1983) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Shiomi Akutagawa (George Lam), a Japanese photojournalist, travels to Vietnam to document life under communist rule. Government officials are all too happy to take him on a tour of villages that are clean, happy and healthy. But Shiomi is restless. He manages to break away from the government tour and sets out on his own. He meets Cam (Season Ma), a young boy, and a villager's mistress (Cora Miao), who become his guides to the Vietnam the government doesn't want anyone to see.
Director
Ann Hui
Production Co
Bluebird Movie Enterprises
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 29, 2019
Runtime
1h 51m