BE GOOD, SMILE PRETTY sheds light on an estimated 20,000 Americans whose fathers were killed in Vietnam—and on those who continue to lose parents in war. The ITVS Community Connections Project is partnering with organizations to target high school and college students, veterans and survivors of wars, orphans of war and the broader audience still divided on the politics of the war.

The one-hour documentary chronicles the filmmaker’s struggle to know and grieve for the father she never knew, a Naval officer who died in Vietnam when she was a baby. Designed to accompany the film, this guide provides a framework for how to approach emotions of grief and loss and how to begin a healthy conversation within families, support groups or veteran centers. This guide also encourages continued healing and remembrance within classrooms and communities through ongoing activities such as the Memorial Project—suggestions for creating items in order to preserve and honor the past, from neighborhood presentations to photo albums—and the Interview Project, which includes guidelines for the discussion and documentation of shared stories of people and events.

Download the BE GOOD, SMILE PRETTY Discussion Guide (PDF)

Get additional resources for community engagement from the
Community Connections Project >>

Get resources and get connected in the Learn More section of this site. Find links to veterans groups, information on the Vietnam War, grief organizations and symbols of remembrance >>