Cong Binh la longue nuit Indochinoise (also known as The Lost Fighters of Vietnam or The Long Night Indochinese) is a 2013 French-language documentary film directed by Lam Lê. The film exposes an emotional, yet overlooked chapter in world history, taking audiences on a profound journey back in time to revisit the turbulent era of French Indochina in the mid-twentieth century.

At its core, Cong Binh la longue nuit Indochinoise is a film about a group of forgotten Vietnamese workers in France during World War II. They were known as Cong Binhs, essentially laborers —particularly related to agriculture— who were conscripted into service for France during the years of Occupation and the Reconstruction that followed.

The documentary brings back the memory of around 20,000 Vietnamese men who were requisitioned and transported thousands of kilometers away from home from 1939 to 1952. These men were employed by the French government as part of the war efforts, mainly to work in factories and on reconstruction tasks in a depleted France after the war.

Director Lam Lê adopts a compassionate approach to retelling this history while blending humanism and pragmatism in his storytelling approach. Drawing from a breadth of archival footage, the film paints a vivid picture of the Cong Binhs' experiences, depicting the harsh conditions they were subjected to, their contribution to the country's recovery, and their struggles with displacement and identity.

Over the course of this poignant 106-minute documentary, these laborers' stories are narrated by surviving Cong Binhs. Their first-hand accounts convey the raw emotion and stark reality of their experiences, providing fascinating insights into the Cong Binhs' journey from the rice fields of Vietnam to the French work factories. Though surviving Cong Binhs are now elderly, their memories live on, capturing their pain, resilience, and enduring spirit.

Through their narratives, the film "Cong Binh la longue nuit Indochinoise" also offers glimpses of the political landscape during that era. As a crucial thread in the film's narrative, it discusses French colonization of Vietnam and the Vietnamese fight for independence, putting the Cong Binhs' ordeal in broader historical context and highlighting an often overlooked part of France's colonial past.

Moreover, the film exposes the exploitation these workers suffered, addressing the issues of worker rights and systemic injustice. It serves as a powerful reminder of the unspoken contributions of immigrant labor to global superpowers. Through the Cong Binhs' stories, the film also draws attention to the workers' key role in the country's recovery after the Second World War.

What makes "Cong Binh la longue nuit Indochinoise" not just an informative and historically important documentary but also a personal and emotional journey is the exploration of the workers’ disconnect from their homeland and their struggles against racial discrimination, alienation, and unequal treatment. They found themselves caught in a complicated web of cultural conflicts, straddling two vastly different worlds and identities.

While the wider historical implications are undeniably significant, Lam Lê’s command over storytelling and presentation is what truly makes the film engrossing. The interviews are not just a recounting of personal experiences, but they also embody a broader theme of a historical epoch marked by exploitation and racial segregation. The documentary's thoughtful combination of archival footage, personal stories, and expert analysis gives the audience an immersive and genuine understanding of this significant chapter in both French and Vietnamese history.

Excelling in terms of both its educational and emotional value, "Cong Binh la longue nuit Indochinoise" effectively communicates a powerful story of human resilience, political manipulation, and the toll that war exacts on the ordinary people who are often caught in the crossfires. In the end, it stands as a testament to memory and a lesson in history, bringing the often overlooked narrative of the Cong Binhs to the forefront, helping us better understand our shared past, ultimately contributing to the rich tapestry of immigration and labor history.