As the Vietnam War drew to a close in late April of 1975, the North Vietnamese Army began to surround Saigon as the last remaining factions of the South Vietnamese resistance faded away.
The U.S. began withdrawing its troops as it became increasingly more clear that Communism would prevail, but some members of the American military were concerned about their South Vietnamese counterparts, who would face imprisonment and possibly death upon the U.S. evacuation of the country. “Last Days In Vietnam” chronicles the untold story of the members of the South Vietnamese military who tried to escape Saigon as the war drew to a close and the heroic Americans who risked their lives in a desperate effort to save as many lives as possible.
Director Rory Kennedy joins AirTalk to talk about the making of the film, the overwhelming response it got, and what she learned from it all.
“Last Days of Vietnam” premiers on PBS channels tonight at 9 pm.
Guest:
Rory Kennedy, director and producer of the film “Last Days In Vietnam,” which earned an Oscar nomination for best documentary.