GI Film Festival documentaries focus on forgotten veteran stories

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The GI Film Festival is underway at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park.

The festival features documentary shorts on wars in Asia that uncover forgotten stories of veterans.

“Jimmy in Saigon” is a documentary co-produced by two brothers about their oldest brother, who died mysteriously after returning to Vietnam.

“It’s a healing film, I think, for everybody,” said composer and co-producer, John McDowell.

Under a ceiling of twinkling stars in Balboa Park, the audience of the largest military film festival in the country will be transported to the early 70s, where they will follow the journey of one family’s quest for answers.

“I started traveling the world trying to interview everyone who ever knew my brother during his lifetime and also to walk in my brother’s footsteps,” said director and producer, Peter McDowell.

After being honorably discharged from the military, his oldest brother, Jimmy McDowell, came back to the U.S. but was anxious to return to Vietnam as soon as possible -- and he did, this time as a civilian.

About two years later, Jimmy died under mysterious circumstances.

“Well, it was a telegram, and I answered the door. I remember seeing my mother coming home from an errand and I knew before she did. And I thought, in two minutes, she’s going to be devastated,” said John McDowell.

At the time John was 17, but Peter was just five years old when his brother died. He says growing up, his brother was a mystery and it was a topic his parents didn’t want to discuss, ultimately motivating him to dig a little deeper.

“Circumstances around his death were a little confusing to us at the time. He died in 1972 and that was a time where communication between the U.S. and Vietnam was difficult,” said Peter McDowell.

“It really wasn’t dealt with, and I think that’s what the film is about -- the fact that it wasn’t really dealt with by the family,” said John McDowell.

While making the film, the brothers were also healing age-old wounds within their family and providing some closure.

“It did feel a little bit like, oh we’re showing this kind of part of ourselves. Does anybody really want to watch something that feels like a home movie?” said John McDowell.

And they did -- at 40 film festivals around the world. The film has already won 15 awards and Peter McDowell has been nominated for best director at the GI Film Festival.

“The film premiered in London at the British Film Institute in March of 2022. Both of our screenings sold out,” said Peter McDowell.

Marine Veteran Keshia Javis-Jones, a GI Film Festival San Diego Advisory Committee member, says she found it difficult to talk about her time in the service and hopes this film could help other vets as they transition back into civilian life.

“I believe that anyone who hasn’t talked about their service, they will actually see how to navigate that experience,” Javis-Jones said.

The GI Film Festival will be showing documentary shorts on wars in Asia starting Wednesday at 5 p.m. and will screen "Jimmy In Saigon" starting right after, at 7:45 p.m.