Filmed in the State of Arkansas for its open spaces, dramatic skies, and rice fields. Arkansas is the leading state for rice production, these fields were pivotal in recreating the rice fields found in Vietnam. Surprisingly, Arkansas' forests were similar to what would have been found under the jungle canopy in Vietnam. Many scenes were shot at the Fort Chaffee Museum adjacent to Ft. Smith, filmed for its barracks, especially the interiors. Interestingly many Vietnamese refugees from the war ended up being processed there after the U.S. pullout in 1973.
Actor Vu Ha (The Good Monk) went to the audition for Love in Country to sign up to be an extra as he had seen in an advertisement calling for Vietnamese actors to play background characters. Upon seeing him, director Richard Gayton and producer Jerry McGrath both agreed Ha should read for the part of "The Good Monk" instead. After a cold reading from the script, Ha was cast on the spot, becoming the first actor cast in the film.
Filmed in Northwest Arkansas: Harrisburg, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville. Fort Smith is the city where Fort Chaffee is located, which housed many Vietnamese refugees after the fall of Saigon, Vietnam in 1975.
Actor Vu Ha (who plays the Wise Monk) was one of 50,000+ Vietnamese refugees who migrated to Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith, AR where portions of the production was filmed. He was barely a year old when his family left Vietnam after the fall of Saigon.
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