There is no shortage of films that examine the Vietnam War through the eyes of Americans. From timeless favorites like “Platoon” and “Full Metal Jacket” to more recent entrants like “Da 5 Bloods” and “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” movies abound. HBO’s next series, “The Sympathizer,” will represent the conflict from the viewpoint of the Vietnamese, which is a much more unusual occurrence in American cinema and television.
A political satire, a love tale, and an espionage thriller—”The Sympathizer” has it all. The Pulitzer Prize-winning first book by Viet Thanh Nguyen of the same name served as inspiration for the film. Nguyen also sees it as a personal story: After the Communist takeover in the 1950s, his parents fled to the south of Vietnam, leaving him with North Vietnamese parents.
After North Vietnam’s conquest of South Vietnam, Nguyen’s family followed the protagonist’s lead and fled to America. “I wanted to write a novel that was entertaining and that people would want to read because I knew that I would also be dealing with a lot of very serious political and literary matters,” Nguyen said to NPR.
What about an espionage thriller that makes you think? It seems like HBO would be a great fit for the program. Let me fill you in on all the details of “The Sympathizer.”
The Sympathizer Release Date
Aside from the fact that it will be out in 2024, we do not yet know when The Sympathizer will be released. The limited series will be available to viewers in the United States on HBO as well as on the Max streaming service.
The Sympathizer Cast
- Hoa Xuande as the Captain
- Fred Nguyen Khan as Bon
- Toan Le as the General
- Ky Duyen as Madame
- Sandra Oh as Ms. Sofia Mori
- Robert Downey Jr. in several antagonist roles
- Duy Nguyễn as Man
- Vy Le as Lana
- Alan Trong as Sonny
- Kieu Chinh as the Major’s Mother
- Kayli Tran as the Communist Spy
- VyVy Nguyen as the Major’s wife
- Scott Ly as Gunner Dao
- Marine Delterme
The Sympathizer Plot
In The Sympathizer, we follow the narrative of a communist spy with mixed Vietnamese and French ancestry who doubles as a North Vietnamese mole but struggles with feelings of loyalty to the South Vietnamese army. When Saigon falls and a slaughter ensues, killing many individuals he knows personally, the man known as “The Captain” flees to the United States.
Moving to America intensifies the story’s central conflict, which centers on The Captain’s dual identities. He meets many fascinating individuals while continuing his role as a North Vietnamese mole and even initiates a couple of relationships.
Additionally, he consents to serve as a consultant on an American Vietnam War picture that blatantly mocks Apocalypse Now and Platoon; yet, he is deeply disappointed by the film’s overly idealized portrayal of the conflict and almost succumbs to its effects during filming.
The Sympathizer Creators
With Park Chan-wook at the helm of the limited series’ first three episodes in addition to his roles as executive producer and co-showrunner, the creative team behind The Sympathizer is remarkable.
Although Oldboy, which he wrote and directed in 2003, is Park’s most famous work, he has also written and directed many other important works, including Stoker, The Handmaiden, the TV serial The Little Drummer Girl, and the 2022 South Korean blockbuster Decision to Leave.
The limited series also has Don McKellar as a co-showrunner. Blindness (2008), Last Night (1998), and Thirty-two Short Films About Glenn Could (1993) are among his prior works as a writer. The Sympathizer also features Marc Munden (The Third Day, Utopia) and Fernando Meirelles (The Two Popes, City of God).
The Sympathizer Trailer
During their investor conference on April 12, 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled their new streaming service Max, and debuted the first teaser for The Sympathizer. An interview with our narrator and protagonist, The Captain, provides a glimpse into the intricate workings of the Vietnam War and espionage in the first scene of the film.
An exploration of social criticism, dark humor, political intrigue, American identity, espionage, and the series’ broad narrative is offered in the trailer.
Additionally, the teaser depicts the many interactions that Robert Downey Jr. has with The Captain and offers us our first glimpse at the several identities he plays in the film, each of which has transforming makeup and exaggerated accents. Including Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) and Ky Duyen, the video concludes with a solid look at every main actor in the show’s incredible ensemble.
Where to watch The Sympathizer?
The Sympathizer is set to premiere on HBO and be available on HBO Max in 2024.