Jimmy in Saigon

Engrossing, heartfelt and gripping.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

McDowell turns his debut feature documentary into an overdue act of mourning and the sentimental mystery at its centre becomes a journey of personal healing.