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Vietnam Mission
Fifty Years Among The Montagnards
| Length: | 56 min |
| Released: | 1994 |
| Ages: |
College Adult |
Buy Online Streaming
This is the story of a remarkable Canadian-American missionary couple who settled, in 1929, among the Montagnard tribes of Vietnam's central highlands. For 50 years, Gordon and Laura Smith lived there, preaching, working to open leprosariums and orphanages, and compiling a unique archive of diaries, books, photographs, and 16 mm films that record a fascinating way of life that has now vanished.
The full sweep of 20th century Vietnamese history is conveyed in these images of French colonialism, Japanese invasion, and American intervention. Interwoven with archival footage and traditional music are interviews with surviving Montagnards and Dr. Gerald Hickey, the foremost American anthropologist on Montagnard cultures.
Produced and directed by the Smith's grandson, an EMMY Award-winning filmmaker, Vietnam Mission examines many little-known facets of foreign involvement in Vietnam and examines the impact of missionary work on ethnic groups ravaged by events outside their control.
The full sweep of 20th century Vietnamese history is conveyed in these images of French colonialism, Japanese invasion, and American intervention. Interwoven with archival footage and traditional music are interviews with surviving Montagnards and Dr. Gerald Hickey, the foremost American anthropologist on Montagnard cultures.
Produced and directed by the Smith's grandson, an EMMY Award-winning filmmaker, Vietnam Mission examines many little-known facets of foreign involvement in Vietnam and examines the impact of missionary work on ethnic groups ravaged by events outside their control.
"Arresting documentary... this exceptional program includes rare vintage footage of Montagnards' rituals and customs." - Booklist
Association for Asian Studies, 1995
CINE Golden Eagle, 1993
CINE Golden Eagle, 1993
