As Episode 1 of "The Sympathizer" (2024 release; 7 episodes of about 55 min each) opens, it is 1975 "Four Months Before the Fall of Saigon", and "Death Wish" is playing in theaters in Saigon. We are introduced to Claude, a CIA agent who is working with the General, a high ranking guy in South Vietnam's army. Also in the General's inner circle is the Captain, who is actually a spy for North Vietnam. At this point we are a0 minutes into Episode 1.
Couple of comments: this is the film adaptation of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, which I have not read. While episode 1 brings us the end of the war, the remainder episodes focus on how the fleeing Vietnamese adjust to life in the US. This is billed as "black comedy", but to be honest I didn't see much comedy in this, black or otherwise. To be honest, I never really connected with any of these characters. That is not to say that this is a "poor" mini-series, though. But I had hoped for more/better than what this mini-series offers. I've seen 2 episodes so far, and I will give it 1 more try with Episode 3.
"The Sympathizer" premiered on HBO a few weeks ago and is also streaming on Max, where I've been watching it. The mini-series is currently rated 88% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels very generous to me. If you are in the mood for what life was like for the Vietnamese feeling their country after the fall of Saigon and coming to the US, I'd readily suggest you check it out and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the film adaptation of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, which I have not read. While episode 1 brings us the end of the war, the remainder episodes focus on how the fleeing Vietnamese adjust to life in the US. This is billed as "black comedy", but to be honest I didn't see much comedy in this, black or otherwise. To be honest, I never really connected with any of these characters. That is not to say that this is a "poor" mini-series, though. But I had hoped for more/better than what this mini-series offers. I've seen 2 episodes so far, and I will give it 1 more try with Episode 3.
"The Sympathizer" premiered on HBO a few weeks ago and is also streaming on Max, where I've been watching it. The mini-series is currently rated 88% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels very generous to me. If you are in the mood for what life was like for the Vietnamese feeling their country after the fall of Saigon and coming to the US, I'd readily suggest you check it out and draw your own conclusion.