The Tiger Cages

The Tiger CagesThe Tiger CagesThe Tiger Cages

The Tiger Cages

The Tiger CagesThe Tiger CagesThe Tiger Cages

The Film

Poster for the film 'The Tiger Cages' showing prisoners behind bars and two people in the foreground.

The Tiger Cages Documentary

In 1970, a young congressional aide named Tom Harkin accompanied a U.S. delegation to a prison on a remote island off the coast of Vietnam. What they were supposed to see was a routine inspection. What they found instead were the Tiger Cages of Côn Sơn.


"The Tiger Cages" is a film about the horrors of torture and the strength of individuals determined to maintain their humanity in a system deliberately designed to strip it away.


This is a story about truth and exposure. About the moment when something hidden is revealed, and the ripple effects that follow. It’s about the power of documentation, the responsibility of witnessing, and the human cost of silence.


Following multiple awards and film festival selections, the short documentary now serves as a "proof of concept" for a larger, feature-length project, currently in pre-production.


< Click the image to download a hi res, print-ready poster.

The Short

On Jan. 27, 1976, before the House Committee on International Relations, U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin testified that the collapse of the South Vietnamese government was not a result of the policies of Saigon or Washington, but instead caused “by one of the best propaganda and pressure organizations the world has ever seen,” organized by “the multi-faceted activities of Mr. Don Luce.” 

Recognition

Media

Jeff Nesmith • ETHOS Q&A

"The Tiger Cages" short was an Official Selection to the ETHOS Film Awards. After each block of films, the creators of the festival hosted thoughtful Q&A sessions with the people behind the work.

Jeff Nesmith • VPCC Panel

On January 29, 2025, the Vietnam Peace Commemoration Committee presented a webinar, "The Antiwar Movement's Campaign to Free Thieu's Political Prisoners". I served as a panelist on that session.

Support

This story deserves more than ten minutes. It demands to be fully told. Right now, American leaders risk repeating the same costly mistakes: entering another unclear conflict with a shaky understanding of human rights and international law. When our media landscape is fracturing the line between truth and fiction, there has never been a more urgent time to confront the past and learn from it. Expose truth with a bright, unflattering light, and refuse to stay silent. 


One way or another, I’m going to tell this story in full. If the lessons of "The Tiger Cages" resonate with you, then you already understand what’s at stake. Let’s talk about how you can help bring the complete film to life.

Funding Opportunities

I am currently pursuing production support for a feature-length documentary through a variety of grants and fellowships. "The Tiger Cages" will also be launching a crowdfunding campaign soon.

Visit the Kickstarter Page

Production Stills

Get Involved

  • Do you have questions or comments about the film? 
  • Do you represent a theater, school, or event where we could arrange a screening of the short?
  • Would you like to support the production of "The Tiger Cages" feature-length doc through a grant, donation, or other funding?
  • Do you have experience or relevant information to share about the Tiger Cages of Côn Sơn Island? 


If you would like to be involved in the telling of this important story, please get in touch and I will get back to you soon.

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