Director’s Notes

THE VIETNAMESE EXPERIENCE

There have been countless films about Vietnam, most of which deal with America’s involvement in the “unpopular war.” I was more interested in telling a personal story about the destruction of family and the journey towards reconciliation in the aftermath of war, from a perspective rarely seen on film.

For the Vietnamese people, the fall of Saigon was the threshold of a dark and dangerous nightmare that would further destroy lives and divide families. Seeking their freedom, close to 2 million Vietnamese took to the sea in rickety boats, often with few supplies, and faced the horrors of nature, starvation, and unspeakable crimes committed by sea pirates.

This gave rise to the name “Boat People.”

As refugees of a war-torn nation, they continued to live with the emotional and psychological scars of violence. Haunted and forever changed by their past, many chose to remain silent about the torments of war. While some have found recovery, others are still searching for peace, hoping to, at last, reveal their buried secrets.

“First Morning” looks beyond war and politics, exposing the voices of an exiled community and ultimately, one family’s difficult quest for healing. Their collected memories take us back in time, to a story more intimate, told closer to the ground, offering a rare glimpse into an important chapter of human history.

 

LAYERS ON CANVAS

THE LULLABY

VISUAL STYLE