User Reviews

I don't know what it is I find so endearing about this film, but the first time I saw it, I wanted to see how it ended. I'm not a big fan of Paul Winfield nor of war-dramas, but I was truly wondering just how and when Winfield would find his child. All he knows is that the boy has green eyes. Truth be told, I have not seen this movie in years nor has it been shown on TV in a while, but this movie is somewhat of one man's odyssey after the pains of war. Winfield shows a very sympathetic and heart warming portrayal of a man lost by his memories. There is an underlying message in this movie that he is looking for the last shred of human morality in the aftermath of this war and the reality that he does confront. Why this movie is not yet on DVD or video is a mystery to me.

This is one of those quality productions that since it was made for TV has escaped the public attention. Lorimar Productions had gotten it's start with The Waltons and would go on to do Dallas and Falcon Crest. In 1977 they started Eight is Enough and did some made for TV films. Lee Rich's Productions always had a stamp of quality and this one is no exception.

The story is about a black soldier who served and got wounded in Vietnam. While he was there he had a love child with a Vietnamese woman. He left her there pregnant when he came home. At first the home celebrations dominate his thought. Then he finds the job market is not being kind to Vietnam Vet's, much less the American Public.

After some unkind job interviews, he decides he wants to take his money he has left and go back to a shattered post-war (South) Vietnam to look for his love child and his love. His mother is dead set against it making bitter racist statements about the picture of his Vietnamese "whore" when he shows her the picture. But he is determined to go, and this movie actually does a very good job recreating post-war Vietnam.

This is worth a look.

I really can't say too much more about the plot of the movie that hasn't already been said. I haven't seen the movie in about 25 years and the memory of it has never left me. I have been searching for it every where. I have done net searches for it in the past but came up empty. Last night I was thinking about the movie again and was trying to remember who was in it but I was only about 10 or 12 when I last saw it and I wasn't even sure if I had the right movie name so I decided to do another search and I finally found this sight. I was right. If any one knows where I can get a copy of this wonderful movie to share with my family could you please let me now at tawnyteel@yahoo.com I would really appreciate it. And to anyone who has not seen this movie and has the chance to it is well worth it.

For anyone who's seen the stage musical "Miss Saigon", there comes a moment that might seem manipulative to some called "Bui Doi", the term for children half Vietnamese, half American, their gravest sin simply being born. That song was going through my head when somewhat shell-shocked vet Paul Winfield comes back to Vietnam, hoping to find his son, the only clue he has is that the baby was born with green eyes. He's conned by the very young Trung (Lemi, an adorable, encourageable pre-teen) who pops in and out of his life, taken care of on occasion by the very kindhearted Rita Tushingham even though he declares throughout that he's fully independent. Indeed, the phrase bui doi is used, and Winfield's desire to find not only his son but the mother makes his heart explode with grief for all the fatherless children roaming around, many now orphans like Trung.

The great Winfield gives a superb performance, as expected, filled with such heart that the viewer can't bear the possibility that he'll strike out in finding his son. Everything comes to be revealed when he locates his old flame, the beautiful Victoria Racimo. Yes, there is a large social message here, and the horrific accounts of the millions of children with the often humiliating label on their shoulders, and for Winfield, the choice becomes obvious what he should do, and what he needs, and who really needs him. No female comfort could make up for his desire to be with his son, but not all sons are blood relations. You'll have to keep kleenex handy for how this unfolds, predictably after you're watching for a time, but satisfactory and brilliantly. Winfield proves once again that he's not only one of the greatest actors of the 70's, but an excellent judge of perfect scripts, because most of his films are about truly human elements that go beyond human differences and deal with emotions that are much more important. Absolutely a necessity to see, share and keep alive as far as forgotten classic films are concerned.