Filmmaker Peter McDowell delves into the mysterious life and untimely death of his older brother, Jimmy McDowell in the documentary Jimmy in Saigon. At just 24, Jimmy, a Vietnam War veteran, died in Saigon in 1972. Through a decade-long investigation, Peter embarks on a personal journey across the U.S., Vietnam, and France, seeking to unravel the secrets surrounding his brother’s past, including aspects of his sexuality and rumored drug use.

The documentary premiered at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival and went on to play at other festivals, including Frameline in San Francisco, NewFest in New York City, and the GI Film Festival in San Diego, where Peter McDowell was honored with the Best New Director award. The film is set for a theatrical release at Cinema Village in New York City on April 25, 2025 followed by VOD release on May 13th.

The synopsis reads: Jimmy in Saigon begins as a personal exploration into the mysterious death and radical life of Jimmy McDowell, an American 24-year-old Vietnam veteran who died as a civilian in Saigon in the 1970s. Director Peter McDowell was only five when Jimmy died, and in his quest to get to know his brother, he uncovers a hidden romance, new family ties and secrets surrounding Jimmy’s drug use and sexuality – a story that takes viewers to Vietnam, France and across the United States.

Critics have lauded Jimmy in Saigon, with Rebecca in a Film Carnage review writing, “Jimmy in Saigon takes viewers along for the ride on Peter McDowell’s sweet and touching quest for the truth. It’s a loving, engaging and sympathetic story which moves from a picturesque 50s American family to a struggling man alone and hiding the truth from his family, and the brother who refuses to let go of his memory. It’s a testament to how we pay respect to lost loved ones.”

Watch the official trailer for Jimmy in Saigon