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The film begins in 1930 during the years of French colonial rule in what was referred to as Indochina. Many French people, like Catherine Deneuve’s character, lived in Indochina their entire life, had never even been to France, and considered their adopted land their home. But the French set up a ruling class system that exploited many of the Vietnamese, in some cases even enslaving them, similar to the British rule in India. As Marxist ideals started taking hold, especially among intellectuals, the Vietnamese were able to form a solid resistance to French rule. They finally gained their independence in 1954, and Indochina was divided into the countries now known as Vietnam, Cambodia (Kampuchea), and Laos. Independence caused a civil war between those wanting to see a Marxist government and those (mostly wealthy landowners) favoring a right-wing dictatorship — which left the opening for America’s later exploits in the country during the Vietnam War.

With: Catherine Deneuve, Vincent Perez, Linh Dan Pham.