We Were the Scenery

In 1975, soon after the end of the Vietnam War, Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che fled the country on a small boat. After nine days at sea, they docked in the Philippines, where they were held in a refugee camp. During this time, along with nearly 100 other refugees, they were utilized as background extras in the filming of “Apocalypse Now”.

Guided by their perspective and memories of their lived experiences, “We Were The Scenery” is a short documentary that traces Vietnam, The Philippines, and the USA within past and present, truth and fiction, life and cinema. Warning: This film contains stroboscopic effects.