What Is the Story About?
The story follows the double life led by a North-vietnamese spy in the south-vietnam army during the Vietnam war. Forced to flee to the United States with his general during the end of the Vietnam war, he has to now continuously report to the North Vietnam comrades while living within south Vietnamese refugees. Conflicted and torn between his duties and newly found life in the United States, The Sympathizer follows Captain’s tryst with living the double life of a spy amidst his comrades, South Vietnamese and the CIA.
Performances?
Hoa Xuande plays the main character, the captain, a police captain in Saigon,a communist and a double agent to North Vietnam. The actor reflects the dual nature of his character, the diplomatic fractures and the double edged sword that his life in United States has become (something he secretly likes and openly doesn’t) very effectively. He is human, caught between the Eastern World and West, North – South Vietnam and also between two friends (one who fights for North and another for South) and lives the life of a spy disowned and owned by neither sides, metaphorically like the border of the divided land.
Robert Downey Jr, fresh off the boat after his Oscars win plays multiple antagonist characters (all representative of the annoying White Americans). Although the actor puts in his star-power, it does come across gimmicky. His role-play weighs down the weight of America’s antagonism to some extent.
Analysis
Based on the 2015 Pulitzer Winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen. T, The Sympathizer is a genre blending dark-comedy, spy thriller drama from Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, Oldboy) and Don McKellar that follows the double life led by a North-vietnamese spy during and post Vietnam War.
The first episode of The Sympathizer, merely takes a look at its primary character Captain and one of the many more characters played by Robert Downey Jr. The show introduces a prisoner who is asked to re-write his confession. The scene cuts to Saigon, 1975 when the prisoner (also called Captain) meets a CIA agent Claude who is also his mentor. We also see south Vietnamese officers questioning a woman who was caught with a sensitive film roll information which was apparently shot by Captain himself.
Yes, the captain is a double-agent. He is with the South Vietnamese on the outside because one of his childhood friends Bon is with the south, while he spies and works as a mole to the North Vietnamese because his childhood friend Man works for the cause. A man with double loyalties and a visible interest towards the lifestyle in the United States, his loyalties are further tested when he is tasked to accompany the general to the United States on the verge of the war’s culmination.
One of the prominent situations where his split loyalties come to forefront is his anxiety about Bon and his family’s safety while the general and team were leaving Vietnam. He continues to spy for North Vietnam in the US while getting torn by the allegiance with some of his close colleagues in the South Vietnam (now refugees in US). He also secretly enjoys the American life which would further make his double-life complicated.
With just the pilot episode out, The Sympathizer hasn’t delved into the drama and praised satirical elements of the book yet. However, the show is off to a very interesting start. Instead of being the regular historical lesson, The Sympathizer has a lot to talk about a double-agent, his dual loyalties and life amidst and after the Vietnam war, while rightfully antagonizing America.
In short, The Sympathizer is an Interesting blend of Spy Thriller & Historical Satire where the horrors of war are dealt with all seriousness and grittiness, but where the show moves from here is yet to be seen. It for sure seems gimmicky when it comes to the many characters a single actor is portraying. But, if that works in favour of the show or against is also something that time only can address.
Music and Other Departments?
Creator Park Chan-wook’s long time music collaborater Cho Young-wuk (even the latest Decision to Leave) has done the score and music for The Sympathizer as well. The opening credits and background score are reminiscent of the 70s and has been adequately aiding the narrative of the series quite well so far. The production design is staut and the camera work is astonishingly addictive.
Highlights?
Premise
Satirical blend of Spy thriller & History
Cast
Drawbacks?
Sometimes gimmicky Not universal enough
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes. The pilot episode is interesting.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
The Sympathizer Series Review by Binged Bureau