American Innocents shines a light on the pitfalls of cultural naïveté, the effects of PTSD on families, and societal constraints on women.

In early 1960s Saigon - before American ground troops landed, at a time of coup d'états and Buddhist burnings - a young American family arrives, full of good intentions. Chris Vogel, a World War II hero and former journalist, becomes disillusioned quickly. His relentlessly cheerful wife Sally finds the exoticism of her experiences exciting. As Sally gains confidence, Chris unravels, turning to alcohol, affecting the entire family. Ten-year-old Ellie Vogel writes letters to her grandmother of her dawning awareness that all is not right with either her parents or the U.S. mission. These letters provide some "Emperor's New Clothes" comic relief as the political situation becomes unbearably tense. The Vietnamese involved in the family's lives play pivotal roles in their safety. Ultimately, each family member is irrevocably changed by their time in Saigon.