Green Dragon

2 Pages 542 Words

Green Dragon
On March, 14 which was the closing night for International Asian American Film Festival I went to attend the film at KABUKI Theater in Japan town. They show the “Green Dragon” as the closing night movie. This is a story about purgatory, though it and what happen the Camp Pendleton. In 1975, as the Vietnam War was nearing the end, this was the entry point for Vietnamese refugees in America. During this time thousands upon thousands came through here until a more permanent home could be found for them elsewhere. Most came having lost family, fortunes, and entire lifetimes. Realizing that the end was very near, they had also lost their country. As news reports revealed each tortured step toward this conclusion, the camp's overall mood was one of mourning. Despair plagued the men who had loyally fought for their country and lost. Some of those not done in by the war succumbed to regret. The man in charge of the refugees is Staff Sergeant Jim Drake. He quickly realized that he may not be communicating his charges too well, so he quickly hires the bilingual Tai Tran as a go-between. Already in the habit of helping those around him, Tai is a natural for the job. He has a few problems of his own, however. Having himself arrived with his young niece and nephew, he dreads the day when he will probably have to inform them that their parents are probably dead. Tai is at least able to distract himself with his duties on the behalf of fellow refugees. Largely through him we begin to see some of their stories, particularly that of a South Vietnamese general disgraced by the loss who now wants only to die. Tai's young nephew Minh meanwhile finds solace on his own with a solitary camp cook named Addie. Hampered by language, he connects with the boy through his own love for art.
The mainstream movie market has been mastered by America Hollywood movie for long time. The independent filmmakers really have no chance to be able afford to ...