The Sympathizer | The Hollywood adventure of two Quebecers

Fred Nguyen Khan still can’t believe he starred in The Sympathizer, a miniseries from the American network HBO with Robert Downey Jr. In an interview, the Quebec actor speaks of incredible luck, especially since he had the experience with his friend, Duy Nguyen, another Montreal actor. “For one of us to land a role like that was already beautiful. Both together? It’s a miracle ! »

Inspired by the 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer (The sympathizer) explores the post-Vietnam War period. Co-created, co-produced and co-directed by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden), the series went on air Sunday evening in the United States. In Quebec, you can watch it on Crave.

During our telephone interview on Friday, Fred Nguyen Khan and Duy Nguyen said they were feeling an incredible range of emotions as the big day approached. Anxious and excited, but tired after a long promotional tour, they couldn’t wait for their loved ones can finally appreciate their work, kept top secret since their six months of filming, from November 2022 to May 2023, between Thailand and Los Angeles.

“It’s a dream role in a dream series,” comments Duy Nguyen, in English. Not just for me, but for everyone involved. This is my first major project in my career. This is also the first time I have the chance to play a Vietnamese character. It’s very special. »

With Robert Downey Jr.

Split into seven episodes and covering the period from 1975 to 1980, The Sympathizer chronicles the tribulations of “Captain” (Hoa Xuande), a North Vietnamese communist spy in the South Vietnamese army, in exile in the United States after the fall of Saigon.

Duy Nguyen and Fred Nguyen Khan play his two best friends: Man, his liaison with the North Vietnamese army, and Bon, a brave patriot who hates communism.

Pour sa part, Robert Downey Jr. joue différents personnages secondaires. Au premier épisode, il incarne un agent de l’agence de renseignement américaine (CIA). Au deuxième, il interprète un professeur obsédé par l’Asie, tendance fétichiste. Et ainsi de suite.

« J’ai joué quelques scènes avec [Robert Downey Jr.], underlines Fred Nguyen Khan. But since my character doesn’t speak too much, too much English, we didn’t have a lot of verbal interactions. That said, it was quite an experience. He is a generous and friendly man. »

Fred Nguyen Khan claims to have evolved as an actor by working alongside the Oscar-winning actor.

I learned that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions when you need something or when you need clarification. You need to take your place, but in a professional and respectful manner.

Actor Fred Nguyen Khan

The series also stars Canadian-American actress Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve).

An “intense” experience

Fred Nguyen Khan has been working as an actor and stuntman for over ten years. The Montrealer, who speaks French perfectly, has appeared in the credits of several Quebec series, including District 31, The honorable And Too much. For his part, Duy Nguyen notably played in The night Laurier Gaudreault woke upby Xavier Dolan.

Fred Nguyen Khan says he auditioned for months before getting the role of Bon in The Sympathizer.

“When Fred got the role, we were so excited! says Duy Nguyen. An actor from Montreal leaving for Hollywood! It doesn’t happen every day. »

Duy Nguyen was ready to live this “American dream” through his friend, but, two months later, his candidacy was also accepted. And it was heading to LA, without delay.

When Fred Nguyen Khan is asked to sum up his experience filming, one word comes to mind: crazy.

I knew I was going to have fun and meet cool people, but I didn’t know how physically and mentally demanding it was going to be. I had to play scenes that were quite emotionally intense…

Actor Fred Nguyen Khan

A new perspective

The Sympathizer addresses a subject that touches Fred Nguyen Khan and Duy Nguyen deeply, but differently from each other.

“I was born in Quebec,” explains the first. My parents left Vietnam during the war. I experienced it through their eyes. They are refugees, they are immigrants. They lost a lot. They suffered a lot. So I had a certain image of Vietnam before going there with other actors, after filming. It opened my eyes. It is truly a beautiful country. War affects the people who experienced it, but afterward, they find a certain normality. »

I grew up in Vietnam for 17 years. I was raised decades after the war. The citizens of Vietnam moved on because they did not experience the trauma of being forced to flee their country. War is not their favorite subject. My family never talks about it.

Actor Duy Nguyen

Sometimes black comedy, sometimes spy thriller, sometimes war drama and sometimes satire, The Sympathizer addresses an important part of history in a way almost unprecedented in North America: by adopting the Vietnamese perspective.

Fred Nguyen Khan hopes that the work produced by A24 (Beef, Euphoria) generates real catharsis among older Vietnamese, who are still haunted by the endless war.

“People of this generation have a lot of difficulty talking about the traumas they have experienced. Those who fled had no time to worry about their mental health because they had to find jobs. They had to survive. I hope that our series will open the dialogue and that they will be able to talk about it. Because it’s hard to heal from trauma when you just ignore it. »

The Sympathizer is offered on Crave, with one episode every Sunday.