Child of Dust
14 september 2025
h. 15:00
International Contest
Brief Synopsis:
Sang is one of countless children left behind by American soldiers after the Vietnam War, unwanted, discriminated against, and scarred by a war that took more than just his father. When Sang unexpectedly locates his gravely ill father in the U.S., he becomes determined to meet him, even though it comes at a price. The only way to fulfill this need is to move to the U.S. permanently, leaving behind his beloved wife, daughter, and grandson. In this foreign land,
he struggles to find his place—not only in a society that sees him as an outsider but also within an American family that never knew of his existence. Cultural barriers collide when the past catches up with the present in the least expected ways.
Director’s Notes:
I studied and lived in the United States for several years, but at the same time, I had already directed a short film in Vietnam with Chi-Minh in 2016. This made Vietnam a part of my life for many years. As a director, I focus on the theme of not belonging. As a teenager, I was bullied to the point of wanting to take my own life. That’s why I feel a deep connection to what Sang went through. I also understand transgenerational trauma, as I carry one within myself related to World War II, being of Polish descent. Sang became so close to me that he felt almost like a member of my own family.

