VI
EN
The story comes to life through the lens of cinema.
At a press conference on June 23rd at the Argentine Embassy in Hanoi, director Ricardo Preve shared: “We didn’t come to Vietnam to make a historical film. We came to travel back in time, to the places Ignacio went, to experience the things he experienced.”
Ignacio Ezcurra, a young Argentinian war correspondent, left his homeland in 1968 to go to Vietnam amidst the flames of war, carrying with him the mission of a storyteller. He did not survive to return, but the articles, films, and images he left behind have become a living testament to the brutality of war and the courage of a journalist.
The multi-part documentary project titled "A Price We Have to Pay" is directed by Ricardo Preve.
Ignacio Ezcurra, a young Argentinian war correspondent, left his homeland in 1968 to go to Vietnam amidst the flames of war.
The film "A Price We Have to Pay" doesn't recreate war, nor does it depict its brutality with blood and gunfire, but rather through the personal lens of a young journalist who fell, a troubled soul still lingering somewhere amidst the ruins of history. Director Ricardo Preve, 68 years old, was captivated by Ignacio's courage—not only as a journalist, but as a man who dared to confront the price that truth had to pay.
That price is the title of the film, taken from Ignacio's own words in a clip filmed before his disappearance. In it, he says: "This is the price we have to pay for the world to know what is happening here." This statement became the moral premise for the entire film project.
In the relentless and violent currents of war, there are those who choose to go into the eye of the storm, not to become heroes, but to tell the truth. Ignacio Ezcurra, an Argentinian war correspondent, is one such person. Born in 1939 in the peaceful town of San Isidro, Argentina, Ignacio could have chosen a safe life as a journalist in his home country.
But he decided to embark on a brutal war half a world away from his homeland – the Vietnam War. It was not just a professional journey, but also a journey of courage, ideals, and dedication.
Director Ricardo Preve (on the left)
In 1962, Ignacio officially became a reporter for La Nación, Argentina's most prestigious daily newspaper. Six years later, amidst the intense fighting of the Vietnam War, Ignacio decided to go to Vietnam. In April 1968, he arrived in Saigon, carrying a camera, video recorder, notebook, and a heart yearning for the truth. No one forced Ignacio. He came because of a personal urge to witness firsthand what was happening, to recount a war that was not simply about guns and bullets, but about the human condition.
In less than a month, Ignacio traveled to the most brutal battlefields, collecting images, documents, and articles from the Tet Offensive, the sweep operation in the A Sau Valley (Hue), and the residential areas devastated by bombs and bullets. The articles he sent back from the battlefield were unembellished and devoid of extremist political ideology. They simply reflected the truth about the fear of American soldiers, the bravery of the Vietnamese people, and the extraordinary resilience of humanity in the face of adversity.
Director Ricardo and the Argentine Embassy in Vietnam
On May 8, 1968, Ignacio disappeared in Saigon. His body was found shortly afterward, but questions about his final moments remain unanswered. He was only 28 years old when he died. Too young to pass away, but too profound to be forgotten. His belongings – a camera, notebooks, and a few photographs – became precious witnesses to a bloody and dark period.
In February-March 2025, the first episode was filmed in Argentina. Filming in Vietnam will begin in the summer, in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City – places Ignacio has visited before. The film is expected to be completed in 2026 and submitted to several international film festivals.
Behind the scenes of Ricardo Preve's filmmaking.
Vietnam - Argentina Cultural Bridge
More than just a film, this project is also a symbol of cultural exchange and friendship. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Argentina to Vietnam, Mr. Marcos Antonio Bednarski, affirmed: “This is a film that needs to be told so that everyone knows about it. It contributes to bringing the two countries closer together.”
In fact, the cultural connection between Vietnam and Argentina is not new. In 2019, on the 50th anniversary of Ignacio's death, a special exhibition titled "Stories from the Camera" was held at the War Remnants Museum, in collaboration with the Argentine Embassy.
Director Ricardo Preve interacted with the press at a press conference on June 23rd at the Argentine Embassy in Hanoi.
The exhibition displays photographs taken by Ignacio himself during the war, along with photos taken by his granddaughter, Luisa Duggan, in Vietnam during peacetime. Both sets of photographs were taken with the same camera. Separated by half a century, two generations – one in war, one in peace – tell stories of Vietnam from sincere and moving perspectives.
Ignacio Ezcurra may have passed away too young, but his dedication transcends time. What he left behind – his articles, films, and photographs – are not only invaluable documents about the Vietnam War, but also a professional manifesto for war correspondents. In an era where news can be distorted, in a world where people easily turn away from the truth for safety or self-interest, Ignacio chose the difficult path – the path of honesty, dedication, and courage.
The film "The Price We Pay" is expected to be completed in the summer of 2026.
