I recall when the film came out in the early 80s it was criticized by some
because they felt it was too harsh in its portrayal of the post-75 regime
in Vietnam.
I saw the film with a Vietnamese friend who had fled the country by boat
a few years earlier. It may have been inaccurate in some respects and
played up violence too much, but on the other hand it did present a
perspective of life in Vietnam from the viewpoint of people who were
treated badly. The government of Vietnam was more oppressive at that
time than it is now.
- Steve Denney
sdenney@uclink4.berkeley.edu