I love Miss Saigon. I've always seen it in an Asian point of view so I see now the different opinions raised when you are from a different race. This review actually started out as a comment of energy81's review, I'd advise people to read it first. So here it is.

Kim, the lead character, is only 17 at the beginning, and is forced to live the life of a prostitute following the deaths of her loved ones. She is forced to be strong and as of all people who are in situations like these, she hopes, yearns for a better life. At a time of war, where nothing in Vietnam will better her life and her son's life, the only thing that keeps her alive is this hope to see that her son will live to see something better than poverty. To go to America, the land of opportunities, of milk and honey, that's what they are looking for. Her death, realizing that Chris and Ellen (who was Caucasian in my show, the Manila production) will never take Tam away from her, was the ultimate sacrifice.

I'd like to believe that Chris did love her and would realize it when he saw Kim once again (that would take a longer story).

I'm not Vietnamese, I am a Filipino,like most of the actresses who played Kim (hooray Lea Salonga!), life is not very different in other parts of the world when faced with similar situations. This is why I can relate. Even if the writers were French and the story was fitted so that it would appeal to American audiences and be played on Broadway(thus the anti-communist thing and downplay of the role of America in the Vietnam war).



Recommended: Yes