The character is based directly on the author of the memoirs the film adapts. Her experiences form the core narrative.

Based on Le Ly's real husband, Ed Munro (name changed). While based on a real person, the film likely dramatizes aspects of his personality and struggles for cinematic effect.

Represents Le Ly's actual mother as described in her memoirs, reflecting the traditional values and suffering of Vietnamese women.

Based on Le Ly's real father, whose experiences and traditional outlook are central to the early parts of the memoir.

Likely based on one or more of Le Ly's actual brothers mentioned in her memoirs, possibly composited or dramatized for the story.

Represents the type of arrangement Le Ly entered in Saigon, though the specific character might be a composite or slightly altered.

Based on Hayslip's memoirs describing her childhood in the central Vietnamese village of Ky La.

Accurately reflects the dangerous position of many Vietnamese villages, pressured by both the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese/American forces.

Hayslip describes being forced or coerced into helping the Viet Cong as a young girl, a common experience.

This event is a key traumatic experience detailed in Hayslip's memoir "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places".

Hayslip recounts being raped by Viet Cong soldiers who suspected her of being a government spy after her release, another major trauma from the book.

Le Ly did flee her village and worked as a servant in Saigon, as described in her memoirs.

Based on Le Ly meeting and marrying US civilian contractor Ed Munro (renamed Steve Butler in the film).

Le Ly emigrated to the US with her husband, settling near San Diego, California.

Hayslip's memoirs detail her difficult adjustment to American life and the breakdown of her marriage due to cultural differences and her husband's PTSD.

Based on Ed Munro's real-life struggles with trauma from his experiences in Vietnam, leading to violence and instability.

The film depicts the tragic suicide of Le Ly's husband, which corresponds to the fate of Ed Munro.

The film culminates with Le Ly returning to Vietnam years later, a journey central to her first memoir.

The film effectively portrays the immense suffering and difficult choices faced by ordinary Vietnamese civilians during the war, as told by Hayslip.

The film shows how individuals like Le Ly were caught between sides, facing danger from all involved factions, reflecting the historical reality.

The film's portrayal of the village, rice paddies, and traditional homes appears authentic to central Vietnam during that period.

Visually captures the atmosphere of South Vietnamese cities during the war, including the mix of Vietnamese life and American military presence.

The depiction of Le Ly's life in the US effectively contrasts with Vietnam, showing typical American suburban environments of the era.

The clothing worn by Le Ly and other villagers (e.g., Áo bà ba, Nón lá) seems appropriate for rural Vietnamese attire of the time.

Uniforms for the Viet Cong, South Vietnamese Army (ARVN), and US soldiers appear generally accurate for the period depicted.

Scenes showing family altars and religious rituals reflect the importance of Buddhism in Vietnamese family life, as emphasized in the memoirs.

The sets for Vietnamese markets and urban streets effectively convey the bustling and sometimes chaotic atmosphere described by Hayslip.

Filmed largely in Thailand, the locations effectively substitute for the Vietnamese landscapes central to Le Ly's early life and memories.