Hollywood depictions have long helped inform America's understanding of the Vietnam War.

But there was usually one thing missing from these Vietnam War stories: the Vietnamese perspective.

For Vietnamese Americans, like author Viet Thanh Nguyen, that experience left him feeling confused as a child.

In his Pulitzer-winning debut novel The Sympathizer, Nguyen filled that gap by telling the story of a Vietnamese double agent who struggled with his involvement in all parts of the conflict.

And with the release of a new HBO series adapting the story, one question arises: Can The Sympathizer subvert the long-standing narrative on the Vietnam war in Hollywood?

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy