Bolinao 52

Bolinao 52

Directed by Duc Nguyen
One boat with 110 passengers escaped Vietnam. After 37 days of drifting only 52 survived.

Videos

Overview

Genre
Human Rights, Social Issues, History, and Investigation
Synopsis

When Tung Trinh, a survivor of the Bolinao 52, stepped foot onto a crowded boat one night in May 1988, she did not know it was a trip that forever changed her life. After leaving Vietnam the Bolinao 52 engine died. They were ignored by passing ships. 19 days later, a US Navy ship stopped. But the captain refused to pick up the dying refugees. Facing death, they resorted to cannibalism. After 37 days at sea, 52 of 110 survived. Two decades later, this Bolinao 52 survivor returned to her past to close off the unresolved chapters.

Stage
finished
Running time
57 minutes

Credits

Production Details

Prod. Co.
Right Here in My Pocket
Country
United States
Years of Production
2009
Locations
the Philippines, United States
Prod. Partners
ITVS, Center for Asian American Media, Corporate for Public Broadcasting

Distribution Details

Release year
2009
Festivals
San Francisco Asian American Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Santa Fe Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival
Awards
2009 Northern California Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Documentary and Outstanding Soundtrack
Broadcast (Prod.)
ITVS
Broadcast (Acq.)
PBS
Language
Vietnamese, English, Tagalog
Subtitles
English, Vietnamese

Photos

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