about
"Through Their Eyes" documents a journey of understanding the present situation and damage of dioxin poisoning from Agent Orange, the American herbicide. This was officially sprayed by the Americans between '61-'71 during the American-Vietnam war. The filmmaker's journey is marked by unexpected events, chanced meetings and marriages of cultural discoveries and differences.



families affected by dioxin poisoning
It is usually a small district. Everyone knows one another and is in one another's business. For a long time, the Vietnamese believed that birth defects and deformities are debts for the wrong-doing people committed in their past lives- a karmic justice. There is a level of submission and acceptance to one's pre-destined fate. However, when neighbors begin to see common symptoms among their children, it becomes hard to believe everyone has the same destiny. The film captures resilient families hardened by their experiences with their affected loved ones. They tell their stories, struggles, hardships, successes, efforts and failures.

Please check out the people link to learn a little more about the various people that are the fabric of this film.

the crew
[filmmaker] jackee chang

[2nd camera operator] hein seok
Miss Hein Seok volunteered her time and energy for this documentary. She shot as second cam for the bulk of the journey. Hein recently completed a stunning and heart-felt feature length documentary on the present day lives of former Korean female sex slaves to the Japanese Military. [doc link]

[translator/guide] luu tran
Miss Luu Tran is a hard-working, young, driven Hanoi-an girl that acted as both a guide and translation She is currently working for East West Magazine in Vietnam

[2nd camera operator] phunam ha
Mister Phunam is a working DP and videographer residing in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

the post crew
[editorial] jackee chang

[film score] abby posner
Miss Abby Posner is a CalArts alum from the Music Department. Her collaboration with jackee uncovers another layer of the film. Besides scoring, Abby also leads an indie band out in the Los Angeles area.

[sound mix] john malm
Mister John Malm worked on a number of documentaries during his love affair with L.A. He currently resides in the Bay Area and this film brings him back to his roots.

[illustrations] ga ban
Mister Ga Ban works in Hanoi as an illustrator. He mostly freelances around town for small merchants as well as working on his own work.

[animation 1] jennifer lyter
Miss Jennifer Lyter is a CalArts alum from the Experimental Animation Department. She currently resides in Los Angeles.