Jimmy in Saigon

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Jimmy in Saigon

2022

1h 30m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

86%

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7 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Jimmy in Saigon explores the mysterious death, radical life, and forbidden romance of a 24-year-old Vietnam veteran who died in Saigon in 1972. Jimmy's rejection of his family's values and his eventual death created deep trauma within the lives of his surviving family and complicated how he was remembered. Director Peter McDowell, Jimmy's younger brother, was only five years old when Jimmy died under a shroud of secrecy and shame. Jimmy in Saigon follows Peter's 10-year search to uncover secrets surrounding Jimmy's sexual orientation and rumored drug use. Peter finds surprising connections with his deceased brother and struggles to reach a new understanding of his own identity as a gay man. After leaving the army, Jimmy unexpectedly chose to return to Vietnam as a civilian while the war still raged. He died a year later. Why do some aspects of a remembered life fade, while others persist? Why are some memories cherished, and others buried? Peter's journey provides an empathetic lens through which to explore Jimmy's life in Saigon--a story of adventure and of love that was unacceptable at the time and still challenging today.

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

Confronting a veil of sadness that he's always felt in his family, filmmaker Peter McDowell documents his impressive investigation to discover the facts about the big brother he barely knew.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 19, 2023

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

The story is simultaneously sad and predictable, yet tender and tentative.

Jan 18, 2023

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

...McDowell takes viewers along the same discovery process he experienced ...This approach works well, particularly for viewers too young to remember the 1970s...

Rated: 7/10

Dec 8, 2022

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

Deftly edited with an eye for detail, this is a personal story which reminds us that history is comprised not simply of great events but of human experiences.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 26, 2022

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Sarah Manvel

Critic's Notebook

What was framed as an act of empathy and understanding is actually exploitative and selfish - kind of like the Vietnam War all over again.

Apr 27, 2022

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

a poetic documentary that exposes the secrets, lies, and taboo love that existed a half century ago, as well as the self-hatred and homophobia inherent in both the Vietnamese and American cultures.

Rated: B+

Apr 22, 2022

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Bahad j

In my opinion, I felt that the movie was very good, behind all this, the filmmaker was able to come up with the right festive details to congratulate the members of the behind-the-scenes team.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

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Munkhchimeg T

Can’t explain my mixed feelings. So many sad, lovely, adorable moments

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/24

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Geke g

Gives me nostalgia vibe, i ve never been takes that level of enjoyment from documentary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/24

Full Review

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Peter McDowell

Director

Peter McDowell

Producer

Lucia Palmarini

Producer

Peter Schulman

Producer

Dan Savage

Executive Producer

Kelly Creedon

Film Editor

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Synopsis

Jimmy in Saigon explores the mysterious death, radical life, and forbidden romance of a 24-year-old Vietnam veteran who died in Saigon in 1972. Jimmy's rejection of his family's values and his eventual death created deep trauma within the lives of his surviving family and complicated how he was remembered. Director Peter McDowell, Jimmy's younger brother, was only five years old when Jimmy died under a shroud of secrecy and shame. Jimmy in Saigon follows Peter's 10-year search to uncover secrets surrounding Jimmy's sexual orientation and rumored drug use. Peter finds surprising connections with his deceased brother and struggles to reach a new understanding of his own identity as a gay man. After leaving the army, Jimmy unexpectedly chose to return to Vietnam as a civilian while the war still raged. He died a year later. Why do some aspects of a remembered life fade, while others persist? Why are some memories cherished, and others buried? Peter's journey provides an empathetic lens through which to explore Jimmy's life in Saigon--a story of adventure and of love that was unacceptable at the time and still challenging today.

Director: Peter McDowell
Producer: Peter McDowell, Lucia Palmarini, Peter Schulman
Production Co: Peter McDowell Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m