|
Late last summer, when my soul was still being nurtured by the gentle summer breeze and everyday life had a real lightness to it, a new radio drama script landed on my desk.
The poignant and powerful narrative suddenly catapulted me all the way across the world, to the brutal realities of the Vietnam War, where young ‘ordinary’ people, fuelled by passion and love, fought for what they believed would lead to a better world.
This is as authentic as can be – this is the story of the author May Ngo’s very own father – and mother.
I was delighted to be brought onboard as casting director and also to spend the day at the studio during the recording with the talented and dedicated team, being completely drawn in by the passion, the pain, the betrayal and the brutal dilemmas.
History is often told from the viewpoint of those at the top – leaders, generals, politicians. This drama tells the story from the perspective of an ordinary man. It counters the idea that ordinary people were passive entities under Cold War conflicts, and instead captures some of the emotions, dreams and desires of people under extreme circumstances and the difficult choices they had to make
‘Liberation and Fall’ was aired on Radio 4 on 30th April 2025, on the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. It was also Radio Times’ pick of the day.
You can tune in and listen to it here:
Liberation and Fall
|
