Produced by the Culture – Entertainment Department of Vietnam Television (VTV), Healing is a dual-narrative documentary that follows the journey of two American filmmakers — Robert (Bob) Judson and Dan Aguar — as they make a documentary in Vietnam. But more than a behind-the-scenes look, it offers a deeply moving, authentic reflection on the emotional transformations and unspoken dialogues between history and the present, between Americans and Vietnamese, and between war and peace.
Bob Judson, an American veteran who fought in the bitter Vietnam War of 1968, returns not to relive painful memories but to seek understanding and reconciliation. Dan Aguar, born in 1958, grew up amid anti-war protests in the U.S., but it was only upon setting foot in Vietnam that he truly grasped the depth of this country. Despite coming from different generations and with different perspectives, the two embarked on a shared journey of discovery and understanding of Vietnam.
According to director Bui Viet Hung (Culture – Entertainment Department, VTV), the Healing film crew accompanied the American filmmakers on all three of their visits to Vietnam to produce the documentary Legacy of Peace. “The first visit was for meetings and planning with the local team in Hanoi. Then they made two more trips for filming”, said Hung.
“The first stop in Vietnam was DAVA (Da Nang Association for Victims of Agent Orange), where they met children affected by dioxin. Here, they encountered Matthew Keenan, an American veteran with dioxin-related illnesses who has found a second home in Vietnam. Watching him gently care for the children, like a spiritual father, alongside his close friend Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, a DAVA teacher and also a victim of Agent Orange ,revealed the power of healing and compassion”, Hung recalled.
The journey continued to Quang Tri, where the team worked with Project RENEW on mine clearance, war victim assistance, and education. Emotional meetings with people like Ho Van Lai, who uses his own story to raise awareness about unexploded ordnance, and Do Thien Dang, who overcame great hardship to live a meaningfull life, helped Bob and Dan realize a profound truth: the Vietnamese people, with extraordinary resilience and optimism, are the true post-war heroes. Rather than lamenting the past, they choose to live courageously, contribute to their communities, and spread positivity.
Director Bui Viet Hung shared that he was personally most moved by Dan Aguar. Though Dan had learned about the Vietnam War as a student in the U.S., it wasn’t until he visited Vietnam that he truly understood its lasting impact.
“The film is titled Healing, which is also one of the messages the production team aims to convey through this work”, said director Bui Viet Hung. “Although the war ended half a century ago, its aftermath continues to haunt the lives of millions of Vietnamese. Agent Orange still causes lingering pain across generations, and the remaining unexploded ordnance from the war may take decades, even up to a century, to be completely cleared. Fifty years is not just a historical milestone, but also a poignant reminder of the ongoing journey of healing, recovery, and restoration”.
Healing is a co-production between the Culture – Entertainment Department of VTV and the University of Georgia, USA, as part of the commemorative series marking the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification of Vietnam. Tune in to watch Healing at 8:10 PM, May 4, on VTV1!
