Changing the Needle

The documentary runs for 53 minutes and provides a poignant look at the impact of the Vietnam War on drug addiction in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Shot in 1981, it highlights the unique approaches to drug rehabilitation that emerged in Vietnam during a time when access for foreign filmmakers was limited.

Changing the Needle presents the stories of a quarter of a million drug addicts, offering insights into their struggles and the societal consequences of addiction in post-war Vietnam. The film was produced by Jequerity Films and Ballad Films, marking an important contribution to documentary filmmaking on a challenging subject.