Originally banned in Vietnam, this documentary was released only after the intervention of Communist Party leader Nguyen van Linh. HOW TO BEHAVE then became a smash hit, seen by millions of Vietnamese, turning into a cornerstone of that country's new glasnost.

Dying of cancer, the cameraman Dong Xuan Thuyet asks his friends to make a film on the subject of "tu-te" - human relations, fraternity or, simply, kindness. Thus charged, the filmmakers explore the realities behind the nationalistic slogans to reveal troubling scenes of Vietnamese life in a society which, although not without hope, seems no longer able to define humanitarianism - or greed for that matter.

"An important historical document... That the film was made at all shows how much government control over the arts loosened after 'doi moi.'... A fascinating glimpse into Vietnamese society at the start of economic and social change."—Hue-Tam Ho Tai, American Historical Review

"A powerfully understated film... leaving searing images."—New York Times

"A revealing, understated profile... valuable to outsiders for its insight into modern Vietnam, invaluable to the Vietnamese for its framing of moral issues."—Landers Film & Video Reviews

"An interesting meditation and surprisingly critical work from a country whose films seldom reach the U.S... For all audiences above the high school level."—Choice

"A film to launch discussions."—Asian Studies Newsletter