[The Vietnam challenge rough cut]
In January 1998, Kartemquin films traveled to present day Vietnam to document the unfathomable: the uniting of former sworn enemies, groups of American and Vietnamese veterans, for an arduous 16 day, 1,200 mile bicycle expedition from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. The event was named The Vietnam Challenge. The Vietnam Challenge is the brainchild of World T.E.A.M. (The Exceptional Athlete Matters) Sports, a North Carolina based, non-profit organization that stages high profile athletic events with the notion that there is great value in building diverse teams. The tape focuses on the emotional impact of the journey on the veterans. We see the entire trip and examine the impact that the soldiers’ disabilities have had on their lives.