UNIT OPENER: Documentary film clip - From Tenessee to Vietnam

This clip is taken from Daughter from Danang (2002) about a young woman (Heidi) born in Vietnam of an American father and Vietnamese mother, brought to the US at the end of the Vietnam War as part of Operation Babylift and adopted by an American woman from Tennessee. In her 20's she decides to return to Vietnam and seek out her birth mother.

First, watch the video (about 2 minutes long) below:

=> YouTube version

 

After watching the video, think about the following:

  1. What are some aspects of life in Vietnam shown here that would strike most Americans as different or even strange?

  2. What kinds of feelings is Heidi having?

  3. What does she want to do? Why?

  4. What does Heidi's translator reveal about Heidi's sense of the trip before coming to Vietnam?

  5. How do you suppose Heidi did for the rest of her trip to Vietnam?

 

Now, turn to the next page for comments.