Bombies 2001
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Lumiere Films
Directed by Jack Silberman
VHS, color, 57 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Asian Studies, Ethics, Human Rights, International Relations
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Jay Schwartz, Suffolk County Community CollegeDuring the Vietnam War era, the United States conducted a secret bombing campaign against the Pathet Lao in northern Laos. Between 1964 and 1973, 90,000,000 cluster bombs (bombies) were dropped on Laos. Many of these failed to explode, and ended up in fields, rice paddies and villages. There have been 12,000 casualties, one third of them children from these baseball sized relics.
This program documents the legacy of this unexploded ordinance. Many groups, including Quaker and Mennonite agencies, the Mine Advisory Group (MAG) from Britain, as well as UXO Laos (a Laotian government agency) are involved in mitigating this tremendous problem. The video shows the efforts of these groups to educate children to the dangers of bombies and shows the on-going, long term efforts to eliminate the hazards of unexploded ordinance. The program is critical of the lack of U.S. commitment to do more to solve the problem. The tape is clear, well put together, and makes a strong statement on the horrors of war. Recommended for junior high through adult. Useful in social studies and ethics classes and as a general discussion starter.