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Butterfly Island – Series 1 Episode 1 (1985)

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clip Vietnam flashback

Original classification rating: G. This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

While Greg (Mark Kounnas) and Jackie (Mouche Phillips) Wilson enjoy the freedoms of island life by taking the boat to the mainland for an appointment, a spot grass fire throws Vo Diem (Phu An Chiem) back to memories of war-torn Vietnam.

Curator’s notes

This sequence, unusually confronting for children’s television drama, contrasts the carefree and independent life of the Wilson children, whose biggest fear is going to the dentist, with the past of Vo Diem. Triggered by the sounds, smells and sight of a brush fire, he experiences a graphic flashback to the violent destruction of his Vietnamese village.

The story of non-English speaking Vo Diem and the other characters’ confused and conflicting reactions to him is a feature of the series. Although Vo Diem appears in the opening credits and throughout the episode, he continues to be a mysterious presence viewed from the perspective of others. The only character seemingly sympathetic to his plight is the youngest Wilson, Jackie. This general mistrust of the young stranger is reflective of Australian ignorance of Vietnamese refugees arriving in Australia at this time.

Phu An Chiem, who plays Vo Diem, himself arrived in Australia as a refugee in 1978. At the age of 14, he became the first Asian actor to gain a leading role on mainstream Australian television. He has since played roles in film, television, theatre and radio, including episodes of Sons and Daughters (1982–87). In collaboration with Brian Caswell, Phu An Chiem has written about the experience of Vietnamese Australians in the young adult novel Only the Heart (1997).

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

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  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

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