CURRENT PROJECTS
WE to Me - A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT VIETNAM
We to Me chronicles the stories of Vietnamese people born during the American-Vietnam War. This group, called the Bridge Generation, lived in simple houses or apartments, often with no indoor plumbing or electricity, experienced desperate poverty and famine in the 1970s and 1980s, and now are the driving force of one of the world’s most dynamic economies. The Bridge Generation experienced shared suffering through war and hunger. This created a strong community bond. However, Vietnam’s open-door policy in the 1990’s has brought influences from the west that have greatly influenced the younger generations. Economic prosperity and the internet ushered in the ideas of individualism and freedom of self-expression. As a result, a cultural divide and disconnect is emerging between the Bridge Generation and younger generations. Can the Bridge Generation overcome this obstacle and can the younger generations connect and learn from their history and heritage?
Published Book - THE BRIDGE GENERATION OF VIETNAM : SPANNING WARTIME TO ECONOMIC BOOMTIME
The Bridge Co’s first documentary project, “We to Me,” focuses on Vietnam. The four episodes will cover experiences of people who lived through one of Vietnam’s most dynamic and changing periods of history.
Their stories come from a book—The Bridge Generation of Vietnam: Spanning Wartime to Boomtime -- about a group of people from the northern part of Vietnam who we call The Bridge Generation. These men and women were born during wartime (1950s-early 1970s). They lived through Bao Cap, Vietnam’s post-American War subsidy period, when famine, hunger and rationing prevailed (1975-1986). Once Doi Moi (1986 and beyond) began, they lived in a period of opening of the Vietnamese market. The last episode will focus on current economic conditions and those who lead the country in business, education, and government. The book and documentary shed light on the Bridge Generation experiences to show their resilience and resourcefulness.
The first episode (completed) on the Bao Cap period shows different generational views, as Vietnam went from a feeling of “we” and community to one of “me,” where individuals pursue their own interests. Younger generations today see the Bao Cap period as vintage and cool, whereas their parents saw it as “going through hell.” The film has already received awards in several international film festivals.
