Little Dieter Needs to Fly is an amazing documentary about the only American to escape from Laos during the Vietnam war.
Dieter Dengler was born in Germany right before the start of WWII. After watching some American fighter planes attack his village in the Black forest, it becomes his dream to fly. He moves to America as soon as he turns eighteen, ends up in Navy flight school, and is sent to fight in Vietnam. He is shot down over Laos and captured by the Pathet Lao.
In the documentary Werner Herzog takes Dieter back to south-east Asia to talk about, and relive some of his experiences. The look on poor Dieter's face when Herzog has some young Laotians tie him up at gun point and march him into the jungle is unforgettable. (I'm glad Herzog is not much into that whole cinema-verite cult.)
This is a truly great movie and Dengler is a genuine hero. You won't believe some of the shit he had to endure in order to survive. Herzog made Rescue Dawn a couple of years ago with Christian Bale starring as Deiter, but nothing compares to hearing the story straight from the horse's mouth.
Rent it ASAP or you can pick it up at overstock for about ten bucks.
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For those who want more info, he wrote a book called Escape From Laos in the 70's. It's out of print but you can pick up a used copy on amazon. FWIW it's even more graphic than the movie.
