Media Type

Moving Image

Physical Location

Stacks D26.5D

Number of Media

1

Language(s)

Vietnamese

Format

DVD

Time - Hr:Min:Sec

01:19:55

Digitized in HD?

No

General Note

Tiếng Mẹ Trên Đất Cha / Mother Tongue, Fatherland

During the American presence in the Vietnam War, it is estimated that 45,000 children were born of American soldiers and young Vietnamese women. Most of these Vietnamese Amerasians were abandoned by their fathers and left to live in poverty, shame, and prejudice. The end of the war brought them no comfort, for they were labeled "offspring of the Western enemies" and were pushed further into a life deprived of social acceptance, education, and employment opportunities.

With the Amerasian Homecoming Act signed in 1987 many Amerasians were brought over to the United States to live in the land of their fathers. Freedom, opportunity for education and employment, and the chance to start their life over were given to them, yet they seldom felt at home, preferring to stay on the fringe of Vietnamese and American communities.

This film follows the stories of these Amerasians from the time of war, through their journey to America, and to the present day after having settled in the U.S. for several years. Here is the voice of a people rejected by the Vietnamese and forgotten by Americans.

A film by Cuong Simon Phan.
Music by George Maurer.
In Vietnamese with English subtitles.