Operation Babylift: Filmmaker Wins Hearts, Minds And Awards

Thank you to Cherri Gann at SMU Magazine for a wonderful article on ATG President Tammy Nguyen Lee and her current project “Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam”. You can read the article on the SMU Magazine website here.

Operation Babylift: Filmmaker Wins Hearts, Minds And Awards

As an infant in her mother’s arms, Tammy Nguyen Lee ’00 was carried out of war-torn Vietnam in 1978. Three years earlier, before the fall of Saigon, thousands of children escaped South Vietnam through Operation Babylift. Nguyen Lee, a filmmaker, didn’t draw parallels between the two events until she heard the story of American nurse Mary Nguyen.

Shortly after graduating from SMU, the cinema major met the nurse who recounted taking part in Operation Babylift, a U.S. military evacuation of more than 2,500 Vietnamese orphans. The story struck a personal chord with Nguyen Lee, who had occasionally wrestled with her own experiences as a refugee growing up in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas.

Tammy Nguyen Lee at filmAsiafest in September.

“I related to this story as an Asian American who felt torn between two cultures, looking a certain way, being treated differently and trying to fit in,” she says. “However, the need for acceptance and belonging is something we all feel.”

While earning an M.F.A. from UCLA in 2004, she received a grant from the UCLA Mickey Dude Fellowship to create a film of her choice. She quickly started work as producer, director and writer of Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, which became a nearly five-year labor of love. The 72-minute documentary looks at the humanitarian effort and its aftermath through the eyes of participants: airlift volunteers, adoptive parents and the Vietnamese adoptees.

The film premiered at the Vietnamese International Film Festival in April and won the coveted Audience Choice Award. In September, the Crow Collection of Art’s inaugural filmAsiafest hosted the first North Texas screening of the documentary at the Dallas Museum of Art to a packed auditorium of more than 300 guests.

In 2006 Nguyen Lee founded Against The Grain Productions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to promote Asian-American cultural awareness and to raise funds for Vietnamese orphanages.

Nguyen Lee juggles her nonprofit venture with a demanding, full-time position as director of development and distribution at Dallas-based AMS Pictures.

She feels fortunate that her SMU professors – including Rick Worland, Tom Bywaters and Kevin Heffernan – were so generous with their time and encouragement while she was a student. “I’ve always been an ‘out there’ kind of thinker; they just let me be free to be a filmmaker. It was amazing to have that support,” Nguyen Lee says.

– Cherri Gann

Going Against The Grain:Lyly Koenig

ATG goes chats with Lyly Koenig, a Vietnamese Operation Babylift adoptee, former Charger Girl and Rams Cheerleader,  breast cancer suvivor and now up and coming fashion designer about how she has kept a winning attitude to follow her dreams.

Photo by Ricardo Ramirez Photography

Name:
Lyly Thanh Koenig

Hometown:
Festus, Missouri

Current Residence:
Miami, Florida

What has inspired you to go into fashion?
After beating breast cancer, I had a tremendous drive to follow my dreams. I wanted to find a way to do what I loved for a living.

What has been some of the biggest challenges you have face and how did you overcome these obstacles?
My biggest challenge was fighting breast cancer. I maintained a positive attitude throughout my treatments. I surrounded myself with positive, encouraging friends and family. I took advantage of any time that I had when I wasn’t feeling sick to embrace life, living in the moment.

What is the most important advice/message you would give ?  
Live in the moment. Take advantage of every opportunity, because you may not get it again. Spend as much quality time with family and friends as you can. 
 
What do you foresee in 2010 and what do you hope to achieve?
I foresee change in that I will be starting off in a new career, in a new city, and I hope to launch my line!

 

Catch Lyly and her work at our upcoming 2010 Fashion for a Passion charity event next September!

THE REEL DEAL

http://www.westendword.com/NC/0/1305.html

(by Stacey Rynders – November 11, 2009)

The St. Louis International Film Festival is a cultural event to be coveted in the St. Louis metro region. In its 18th year, SLIFF will feature more than 250 films and documentaries from more than 40 countries from Nov. 12 through 22.

As with many film festivals, SLIFF continues to build its prestige and typically brings some Hollywood indie films to the St. Louis market, such as the filmed-in-St. Louis George Clooney picture Up In The Air, the screening of which is already sold out.

But it is the diversity of strong stories, myriad perspectives and range of cinematic styles produced by the less glamorous independent filmmakers, working with much smaller budgets, that are truly the crème de la crème of this festival and a reason to block out dates each November to catch as many film screenings as possible from the jam-packed SLIFF schedule.

It’s impossible to spotlight all of the great entries, but a small preview of this year’s notables includes work from a personal favorite, documentary writer/director Michael Steinberg, who is also director of the Webster Film Series and the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. In 2009, Steinberg makes both his third and fourth SLIFF appearances on two films he co-directed with Thomas Crone, a talented St. Louis journalist prone to bringing cult-favorite character features and news to the region.

Both documentaries, the feature-length Old Dog, New Trick and the short Mama’s Pride, were inspired by 1970s rock artists from St. Louis that received their break during KSHE 95’s “heyday of freeform FM radio.”

“Thomas and I started making one film that was a catchall about the bands that came out of St. Louis in the 1970s,” Steinberg said. “But it wasn’t working. Then we found Steve Scorfina.”

Old Dog, New Trick, which airs Nov. 20 at the Tivoli, is a “fascinating character-driven documentary and interesting story” about Scorfina. Steinberg said. One of the founding members of Pavlov’s Dog and REO Speedwagon, Scorfina has now returned to his R&B roots, playing blues-rock while also dealing antiques.

“Mama’s Pride has a lot of local appeal and still has a life as a band; they are a great band to hear live,” Steinberg said about the accompanying short documentary based on the same 1970s, KSHE rock experience as Old Dog, New Trick. The band Mama’s Pride is still together and playing music.

The screening of Old Dog, New Trick will be followed by a Steve Scorfina and Danny Liston (of Mama’s Pride) concert in the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill, 6504 Delmar Blvd.

Steinberg will also make a personal appearance to interview Joe Berlinger, director of Crude, a cinema vérité documentary about the controversial lawsuit between an Ecuadorian village and oil goliath Chevron. Without the audacity of a Michael Moore documentary, Berlinger takes this gripping underdog story about 30,000 indigenous and colonial rainforest dwellers from Ecuador and chronicles their legal battle with the Chevron powerhouse.

Without any of his own commentary, Berlinger talks to Chevron spokespeople while following the Ecuadorian trial and talking to the victims suffering from the effects of environmental negligence on the part of big oil. The end result is compelling.

Crude, which premiered at Sundance, has earned more than a dozen film-festival honors since its debut. At SLIFF, Berlinger will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Documentary. Crude plays Nov. 15 at the Tivoli and is followed by a question-and-answer segment with Berlinger.

Another popular film in the film festival circuit is Snow (Snijeg). Part of the Bosnian Cinematic Program at SLIFF, Snow is one of two feature films and two documentaries to be spotlighted during the festival. Additionally, director Faruk Sabanovic will hold a free discussion about his films at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Snow is a beautiful portrait of the surviving Muslim women and orphaned children in a remote Slavno village following the war. At the core of this group, quiet and dedicated Alma beckons her strength to unite the group and give them a vision of a more prosperous future. This quiet, inspiring film tugs on the heartstrings without being sappy and soothes with gentle imagery and smooth frame-by-frame movement.

Another war-inspired film, the documentary Operation Babylift, focuses on an orphan “rescue” of more than 2,000 children at the close of the Vietnam War. Now, on the 35th anniversary of the event, director Tammy Nguyen Lee talks to the children who were brought to the United States, adoptive parents and the people who fought to bring these children to America.

“Although this project started off with one vision, we listened and addressed a need in the adoptee community to be heard,” said Lee, who spent five years producing the documentary. “We allowed their stories to unfold, to change, and that changed us. From the overwhelming response, I think we achieved something really special that educates, inspires and helps bring people together.”

Operation Babylift premiered at the Vietnamese International Film Festival, winning the Audience Choice Award. It has gone on with much acclaim to numerous other film festivals and has been greeted with similar enthusiasm.

It is stories like Operation Babylift that bring true gusto to the annual SLIFF. The SLIFF experience is to be measured in degrees of like; there are no bad stories here.

• For a full schedule of events and film screenings, and additional information concerning ticket prices and special events, visit www.CinemaStLouis.org.

VANCOUVER ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL FEATURES CAPTIVATING STORY TELLING

Vancouver Asian Film Festival features captivating story telling | Kelowna.com.

(excerpt)

VANCOUVER –

As the opening film this evening at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Children of Invention is an example of the changes Asian films have undergone since the festival began 13 years ago according to founder Barbara Lee.

She said when the festival began, feature films tended to be about the cultural identity crisis experienced by Asians who grew up in North America. At home, they were raised by parents who believed traditional ways should rule. Once they stepped outside, they walked into a vibrant pop cultural world where few, if any, of those traditional values had much legitimacy. As a result, Asians often felt like they were strangers in their own land.

Lee said as the years have gone by, the festival has seen fewer and fewer of those kinds of identity films on the program.

“I think we kind of got over that,” she said. “Now it’s more about: This is who I am: I’m Canadian and this is my take on it.’ It’s not so much about an identity crisis and more about saying This is how it is and listen to my story. ‘”

Lee said both Asians and non-Asians sometimes still complain that the films in an Asian film festival aren’t in Asian languages. But VAFF isn’t about showing films from Asia. VAFF focusses on showing films made by Asians living in North America where English is the dominant language.

Lee said while looking Asian equates with being a foreigner to some people, the festival is trying to overcome that stereotype by showing Asians as part of the country’s cultural landscape. The 42 films have been chosen because they tell human stories that cross cultural boundaries.

“Our stories are universal but maybe have a little bit of an Asian perspective because culturally that’s where our parents are from,” she said.

More hot picks from the festival:

Operation Babylift: the Lost Children of Vietnam: After the United States pulled out of Vietnam in 1972, close to 2,500 orphans were left behind in the country. Airlifted out, they faced enormous prejudice growing up in the United States because of the unpopularity of the war. Sunday, 1:30 p.m.

kevingriffin@vancouversun.com

OPERATION BABYLIFT TO SCREEN AT THE ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Dallas, TX – On Saturday, November 21st, Dallas based non-profit ATG Against the Grain Productions is honored to present Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at its Missouri premiere during the 18th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). The award-winning documentary described as “Amazing…compelling and hard hitting,” by Bolsavik.com screens at 5:00 p.m. at the Landmark Tivoli Theatre located at 6350 Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis, Missouri. Filmmaker Tammy Nguyen Lee, as well as several members of the cast and crew, will be in attendance for the Q&A.

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant, yet untold story of the $2 million U.S. initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country from the impending threat of the Communist regime. These adoptees grew up facing unique challenges in America, including prejudice overshadowed by a controversial war and cultural identity crisis. Featuring compelling and insightful interviews of the volunteers, parents and organizations directly involved, the documentary takes a contemporary look at Operation Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.

Chris Clark, Artistic Director for St. Louis International Film Festival, says, “The multitude of St. Louis connections to this wonderful and poignant film make it a natural fit with this year’s SLIFF programming. There was no way we would have not shown Operation Babylift in the festival!”

Several interviewees featured in the film are St. Louis residents and will be present at the screening.  Adoptee Jim Zimmerly, a survivor of the C5-A Galaxy crash says, “I feel so privileged to be part of this project and a piece of history, and to be able to present the story of all the Vietnamese adoptees to my hometown of St. Louis is really special.” Adoptee Dan Bischoff, also a crash survivor who is returning from teaching in Rwanda says, “I’m very excited to be part of this project because I believe any education to this often over-looked aspect of the Vietnam War is great. I sometimes struggle finding the right words to describe the events of my adoption, and media like this will only assist that and bring greater understanding across a wider audience.”

Producer/Director Tammy Nguyen Lee, a MFA graduate from UCLA’s Producers Program, adds, “This has been a very full and exciting season of festival screenings for us. We’re honored to be included in SLIFF’s great line-up of films. It’s so symbolic and appropriate to end the year in St. Louis, where there are so many ties to Operation Babylift.”

Tammy Nguyen Lee is a first generation Vietnamese American who fled Saigon as refugees with her mother more than 30 years ago. Lee founded ATG Against the Grain Productions, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to promote Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages. This is her feature documentary directorial debut. For more information please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com. Ticket and screening information is available at www.cinemastlouis.org.

ATG GIVES BACK – AN ORPHANAGE UPDATE

Recent typhoons have threatened Vietnam with the biggest floods in decades. We had sent funds over just in time before the storms hit. Luckily, one of our own orphanages only faced minor damages during the flood and sent us a very heart-warming email. Here is the their message, translated into English:

Dear ATG family,

Hope everyone is well. The bad storm and its flood were so horrific. The wind was up to level 14 and 15 and caused much damage to the Central and Mountain area of Vietnam, destroying many lives and properties.  The lives of the people in these areas, most of whom are already poor, now have become more difficult.  I saw the news and felt so bad for them.

At least [we] were not hurt.  After the storm and the flood, everyone is safe and the house is not damaged.  The bedrooms of the kids and the kitchen were flooded as high as 30 cm.  After the water retreated, the older kids and I cleaned up the mud for 3 days.  However, even when everyone were tired and busy, I felt that I could not let the children go without the Mid-Autumn festival.  Thus, I have organized a small celebration for the children from Uu Dam and other kids from the disadvantaged families in the neighborhood.  The children were so happy and encouraged.   I attached a few pictures of Uu Dam family as we faced the flood and enjoyed the Mid-Autumn Fest thanks to ATG family.  Wishing everyone at ATG happy and healthy.

 

 

Children of the orphanage during the floods

Cleaning up from the flood damage

Sister with the children celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival

Going Against The Grain: Thomas’ Apartment

Thomas’ Apartment, the band behind the beautiful piece called “Coda” used in trailer and film of  Operation Babylift,  is celebrating a year of great shows and a recent CD release. ATG spoke with Pete Nguyen from the band to learn more.

 

Full Name(s) :

Thomas’ Apartment is comprised of Pete Nguyen (lead vocals, lead guitar), A. Thomas Tran (keyboard, backup vocals), Billy Vu Lam (rhythm guitar, backup vocals), Nam Tran (bass, backup vocals), and Krystal Sae Eua (drums).

Current Residence:

Nam, Billy, Thomas, and Krystal all reside in the Los Angeles area, while I’m in Irvine.

How do you feel about your piece “Coda” being used in the film?

We’re absolutely thrilled that “Coda” was chosen for Operation Babylift, and even more thrilled that the hope and inspiration that went into this piece are shared among your crew and audience. We couldn’t ask for a greater honor and thank you again for letting us be involved.

Coda is a very special piece to us. When it came time to put the Synchrony album together, we felt the album needed to end on an epic and emotionally uplifting note. We had an existing song called “Blue Skies” that was written about the Fall of Saigon, and we felt the song’s uplifting musical structure could be fleshed out instrumentally and turned into something much grander. I had been trying my hand at scoring independent films (such as Owl & the Sparrow, directed by Stephane Gauger) and I thought I’d put an orchestral arrangement to Billy’s uplifting song structure and Thomas’ brilliant piano playing. One thing led to another, our imaginations ran wild, Thomas put an amazing harp melody on top, and “Coda” was born. To add a sense of both closure and continuity to Synchrony, “Coda” ends with the same 8-note motif that begins the album in “Prelude”.

How did Thomas’ Apartment begin and what is the story behind the band name ?

About 9 years ago at UCLA, original members Billy, Nam, and Thomas all got together at an apartment that Thomas lived in to play music for fun, which eventually evolved into a more serious and ambitious musical project named after the place where it was born; Thomas’ Apartment.

What has been your favorite part or gratifying part of being a part of Thomas’ Apt.?

All five of us are very diverse in terms of our musical influences, and it’s always fun to have it all mesh together in the songwriting process. Personally, my favorite part of being in this band is the fact that we get to share these musical collaborations with so many people when we play live.

What was the inspiration for the new album?

Tuesday Night Lights is sort of an emotional snapshot of where we are at this point in our lives. Heavier and darker songs like “Miles Away” and “Today” are an in-depth analysis on the intricacies of relationships. “Tuesday Night Lights”, the title track, tells a story of the torment and helplessness felt by someone watching a friend become a victim of addiction. “Believe” is about the frustration felt by someone on the shorter end of a one-way relationship. “Stainless” is about finding the strength to walk away from an abusive relationship. There are also more lighthearted songs about falling in love and having good times, such as “Just For Tonight,” “Your Voice,” and “Michiko’s Song” (which was written by guitarist Billy Vu Lam for his recent wedding). And of course, musicians couldn’t be musicians without some tragic heartbreak stories, which you’ll find in “July,” “Give It All Away,” “Christmas Song,” and “Belong.”

What has been some of the biggest challenges you all have faced and lessons that you have learned?

We’ve all been there for each other through personal tough times, whether they be related to relationships, family, work, or our music itself. The most important lesson we’ve learned is to maintain positive and stay excited about the music we make. We’re all very lucky to have each other and there are some exciting times ahead!

OPERATION BABYLIFT MAKES CANADIAN PREMIERE

Award-winning Documentary Screens at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival

Dallas, Tx – On Sunday, November 8^{th ,} Dallas based non-profit ATG Against the Grain Productions is proud to present Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at its Canadian premiere during the 13^th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF).  The award-winning documentary that was nearly five years in the making is described as “amazing…compelling and hard hitting” by Bolsavik.com and screens at 1:30 p.m. at Cinemark Tinseltown located at 88 West Pender in Vancouver, BC. Filmmaker Tammy Nguyen Lee will be in attendance for the Q&A.

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant, yet untold story of the $2 million U.S. initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country from the impending threat of the Communist regime.  These adoptees grew up facing unique challenges in America, including prejudice overshadowed by a controversial war and cultural identity crisis.  Featuring compelling and insightful interviews of the volunteers, parents, and organizations directly involved, the documentary takes a contemporary look at Operation Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.

Yooksik Oum, Executive Programming Coordinator for the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, says “[Operation Babylift is] a documentary that’s intense, emotional, and uplifting. It seemed only fitting that we had to share this with our audiences at VAFF.”

Adoptee and current Canadian resident Bert Ballard says, “Even though Operation Babylift was primarily a United States based event, there are many throughout the world who were and who continue to be affected by it. I am excited for the international and Canadian premiere of the film, and I hope it broadens awareness of the experience of all of us who were a part of Operation Babylift, as volunteers, activists, and most importantly the orphans and adoptees, many of who grew up in Canada. This is a truly international film with universal appeal for all! I am honored to be a part of the project.”

Producer/Director Tammy Nguyen Lee, a MFA graduate from UCLA’s Producers Program, adds, “This is our first time screening to Canadian audiences, and we are excited and anxious to share this inspiring and universal story that is relevant to a diversity of people on so many levels.”

Tammy Nguyen Lee is a first generation Vietnamese American who fled Saigon as refugees with her mother more than 30 years ago.  Lee founded ATG Against the Grain Productions, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to promote Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages.  This is her feature documentary directorial debut. For more information please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com. Tickets and show times to the screening are available to VAFF members at www.vaff.org.

The Audience Speaks

What an honor to receive such great reviews from our Operation Babylift screenings.

Read what the audience has to say:

“Amazing…compelling and hard hitting. ”
– Hao-Nhien Q Vu, Publisher/Editor of Bolsavik.com, Irvine, CA

“An important documentary that investigates Operation Babylift from a humanistic perspective. ”
– Lan Duong, UC Irvine

“A remarkable film…an engrossing historical document…a riveting story that spoke to me as an Asian American.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                    — Dr. Sam Lam

“Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam depicts the incredible journeys of the adoptees.  Their stories have become a part of the American history.  From a humanistic perspective, director Tammy Nguyen Lee explores the depth the feelings of being displaced and discriminated as well as love and triumph of the “lost children.” From the audience’s reactions at the premiere at the Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) 2009, I was not surprised when the documentary won the Audience Choice Award.”
–Ysa Le, Executive Director, Vietnamese International Film Festival

“The documentary is a moving and inspirational film that we are excited to be screening to a Philadelphia audience.”
– Joe Kim, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

“Heart-wrenching and heart-warming, Operation Babylift shares the stories of a unique group of Asian American adoptees who illuminate our common humanity. I was moved to tears watching it, and even moreso when I saw the film’s impact on audiences who were relating their own experiences to what they were seeing on screen. A must see for anyone touched by adoption or who cares about the Asian American community and our shared human connections. Thanks for making this film with the power to bring so many people together!“
– Gayle Isa, Executive Director, Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA

“Operation Babylift reveals the human consequences of conflict and the sometimes tragic choices forced upon families and individuals. Through incisive interviews and archival footage, the history of this airlift and its aftermath are presented in complex, rich detail. The DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival is proud to present this little known story of survival and hope.”
Tad Doyle, Director of Programming for DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival

“Operation Babylift reveals a story of the Vietnam War that many are unaware of, dealing with the most precious and tiniest victims – the children. The San Diego Asian Film Festival seeks to share such untold stories, as we believe sharing these stories of war, history, and ultimately – hope – helps us understand more about the world and about each other.”
– Lee Ann Kim, Executive Director of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation

“[Operation Babylift is] a documentary that’s intense, emotional, and uplifting. It seemed only fitting that we had to share this with our audiences at VAFF.”
– Yoosik Oum, Executive Programming Coordinator of the Vancouver Asian Film Festival

“The multitude of St. Louis connections to this wonderful and poignant film make it a natural fit with this year’s SLIFF programming. There was no way we would have not shown Operation Babylift in the festival!”
– Chris Clark, Artistic Director, St. Louis International Film Festival

“As an adoptee, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam is a story that resonates deep within my soul. It’s an historical and honorable piece of American and world history. The public will not only enjoy this amazing film, but be enlightened by a story they may not be acquainted with. This is a film you don’t want to miss!”
– Lyly Koenig, Adoptee, Miami, FL

“Tammy [Nguyen] Lee has done an exceptional job documenting this part of history that many many people were unaware of. Watching this documentary brought back emotions and memories of a time that I almost forgot. Growing up, I just didn’t have a good understanding or maturity to acknowledge my past. This documentary brought back vivid memories of my life in Vietnam, living at the orphanage and then the finality of leaving and transiting to the states on a PAN AM Flight that was crowded with children and babies. The film really helped me to reconnect with my past. This is a truly positive experience for me, and it is a great honor to be a part of this history.”                 -
- Lieutenant Commander Mark Slavik, Adoptee, Seattle, WA

“I’m very excited to be part of this project because I believe any education to this often over-looked aspect of the Vietnam War is great! I sometimes struggle finding the right words to describe the events of my adoption, and media like this will only assist that and bring greater understanding across a wider audience.“
– Dan Bischoff, Adoptee, St. Louis, MO

“Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam made me feel tremendously proud to be part of one of the greatest humanitarian efforts in American history. As a member of this small group of individuals, so precious and innocent, I am forever thankful for all those individuals who risked their lives so that I could have a one. While we faced many challenges in our lives and continue to struggle with new ones, we must cherish in the simple fact that we are alive today and we can have an impact in this world. This film reminds us all that as human beings we have the remarkable capacity to love one another, care for one another and help one another…even those we don’t even know. Thank you to Tammy and her entire production team for telling our story!”
– Sarah Lawrence, Adoptee, Philadelphia, PA

“The day Carol became our daughter at JFK airport was the most moving experience in our life, for her mother and I, as she wasn’t able to have children. We were truly blessed that God sent us this beautiful girl from out of the midst of turmoil. We are happy that she is seeking to connect with her heritage. Your film was very moving and it provided a persepective on how these 2500 young people have grown into thoughtful and loving adults.”
– William R. Schuler, Jr., Adoptee Parent, Philadelphia, PA

“Being a mentor for two young Vietnamese adoptees, I was very excited for the screening of Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam. The movie goes beyond my expectation and engages all audiences to every story, every picture, and every emotion. From the adoptees in the movie to the audiences and the producer, Tammy, we all share the tears of sympathy. The movie is inspirational and heart-melting. It is also a motivation for me to give back more to the Vietnamese community, especially to the orphans and adoptees. I would like to thank Tammy and the entire production team for their amazing work and wish you all the best at bringing your message across the country and the world.”
– Chi Nguyen, Vice President of ICON, Philadelphia, PA

“It is such a powerful film – about courage, hope, and love amidst a war that tore so many apart in the US and Vietnam.  And yet, this powerful film showed that giving someone life and love is sometimes not enough to fulfill a person.  Searching for one’s roots and identity is a universal story that many can relate to. But showing the bravery of a few well-meaning people is a story that encourages all of us not to be afraid of taking action that can positively impact others. Thank you, Tammy, for bringing this story to the screen.  I applaud not only the quality of your OPERATION BABYLIFT, but also your efforts to use the film  as a tool to continue to help others.”
– Cynthia Salzman Mondell, award-winning documentary filmmaker of THE MONSTER AMONG US and A FAIR TO REMEMBER, Dallas, TX

To find out more about and read more comments on the film, please visit the Babylift website.

Interview with Tammy Nguyen Lee in Nguoi Viet newspaper

NGUOI VIET C?ng ??ng – Ph?ng v?n ??o di?n Tammy Nguyen Lee – www.nguoi-viet.com

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