Jimmy in Saigon

Play trailer

Jimmy in Saigon

Released Apr 25

1h 30m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

Popcornmeter

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.

Kent Hill

Film Threat

Jimmy McDowell was intensely private during his short time on Earth, but the tale his brother unravels is that of a vital spark who lived what life he had to the fullest, and on his own terms.

Rated: 8/10

May 14, 2025

Full Review

Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

This is a wonderful investigative documentary, about family secrets, and a brother trying to get to know the late brother who he never knew.

May 11, 2025

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

A fascinating, if also somewhat frustrating, partial glimpse into a short life that covered its tracks pretty thoroughly.

May 8, 2025

Full Review

Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

At times, the film seems only of value to the filmmaker, rather than his audience, though it eventually gets to a very sweet point in its final moments.

Apr 27, 2025

Full Review

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Engrossing, heartfelt and gripping.

Apr 22, 2025

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

Clio V

Beautifully told true story. Captivating and moving. Highly recommend.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

Full Review

Sarah A

This is a touching and uplifting documentary about a Vietnam veteran from Central Illinois who moves to Vietnam following his discharge, and then dies there. The film was made by his much younger brother and explores what actually took place, the impact incomplete and misleading information had on his family, and what happened after his brother's death. Includes scenes from present day Vietnam, and discussions with Jimmy's friends and family.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

Full Review

Heather W

"Jimmy in Saigon" is a moving documentary that delves into the complexities of family, loss, and the continued search for answers that may never fully materialize. Directed from the deeply personal perspective of someone whose life has been marked by the absence of a brother, Jimmy, the film explores the heartbreaking yet hopeful pursuit of resolving the mysteries surrounding him. The film follows the director as he retraces the life and disappearance of Jimmy, a brother who has cast a long shadow over their family dynamics. Jimmy's absence is not just a void but a presence of sorts—a specter that shapes relationships and memories in ways both subtle and overt. One of the film's most powerful and heartbreaking aspects is the interview with the director's mother, who openly shares her grief over losing her firstborn. Her candor about the pain of Jimmy's disappearance is juxtaposed with her resistance to knowing what the director ultimately discovers. This duality—her yearning for closure yet fear of confronting the truth—adds layers of complexity to the narrative. Her reluctance to learn what the director has uncovered is not a failure of courage but rather an act of self-preservation. "Jimmy in Saigon" may not provide all the answers, the process of seeking itself becomes meaningful—a testament to the idea that sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Heather K

Such an intimate story about a family coming to terms with grief. Jimmy in Saigon is a heartfelt, personal look at a family finally opening up about a long-held grief. By exploring the mystery behind his brother’s death in Vietnam, filmmaker Peter McDowell not only helps his family heal but allows himself to be pulled into the story to experience the healing—proving that sometimes the only way to move on is to let the truth breathe.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

Full Review

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

Full Review

Munkhchimeg T

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Peter McDowell

Director

Peter McDowell

Producer

Lucia Palmarini

Producer

Peter Schulman

Producer

Dan Savage

Executive Producer

Kelly Creedon

Film Editor

Marx Can Wait

100%

%

Marx Can Wait

Watchlist

Sweetheart Deal

100%

%

Sweetheart Deal

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Sweetheart Deal

Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World

100%

98%

Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World

The Penny Black

100%

100%

The Penny Black

Watchlist

The Arc of Oblivion

100%

97%

The Arc of Oblivion

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Arc of Oblivion

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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
Distributor: Dark Star Pictures
Production Co: Peter McDowell Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 13, 2025
Runtime: 1h 30m

Most Popular at Home Now