Filmmaker Q&A for "The Empathizer" & "White Butterfly" | Viet Film Fest2024

Viet Film Fest 2024 presents the filmmaker Q&A for the feature film "The Empathizer" and accompanying short film "White Butterfly". This Q&A was featured in the virtual edition of the film festival.
Synopsis for “The Empathizer": In The Empathizer, director Fred Le travels to Vietnam to explore why his mother refuses to return to the homeland she left. There, he interviews a number of Vietnamese expatriates who have made a living in Vietnam, including artists, athletes, business owners, and students. Each discusses the contradictions between what they learned about Vietnam during their own Western upbringings and their experiences in present-day Vietnam. It might appear, at first, that The Empathizer is leaning so heavily on the views of the young Việt kiều (the Vietnamese diaspora) who emigrated back to Vietnam, but Le eventually returns to the source of why this film exists. And when he does, The Empathizer finds its emotional and moral center.
Aptly titled, The Empathizer pushes the audience to consider the diverse viewpoints and experiences of the various Vietnamese diaspora approaches to Vietnam. It blends humor and gravity in articulating the lasting effects of division, suspicion and animosity borne out of war, forced migration, and politics. The film speaks directly to the children of Vietnamese refugees who seek to empathize with the tribulations of their parents, but often cannot fully grasp the effects of displacement-induced trauma. Highlighting the rift between generations, The Empathizer pushes the audience to explore ways to build empathy and understanding.
Synopsis for “White Butterfly": Upon learning of her mother's passing, May returns to Vietnam after being away for 20 years. While attending the funeral rites, May harbors a deep sense of curiosity about her parents' separation in relation to her mom's practice of Hầu Đồng (Mother Goddess Worship).
Filmmakers present:
Director of “White Butterfly" - Catherine T. Nguyen
Actress of “White Butterfly" - Juyeon Song
Directors of "The Empathizer" -Fred Le & Bret Hamilton
Moderator: Y Thien Nguyen
The Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) kicked off Viet Film Fest (VFF) in October, bringing together filmmakers and community members to celebrate the largest Vietnamese film festival in the diaspora. Starting October 5 to 20, the festival commenced Viet Film Fest at Home, a virtual festival available right on your home screen! The in-person festival took place over three exciting days, from October 11, 12 & 13 at The Frida Cinema in Downtown Santa Ana. Set against a backdrop of Southern California’s scenic beauty, the in-person event featured exclusive screenings, Q&A sessions, and opportunities to network within the Vietnamese and Vietnamese diasporic filmmaking community.
Learn more at www.vietfilmfest.com UC Irvine’s H.O.T. Fellow and VFF 2024 Programming Committee Member: Chenglin Lee
Film Programming Intern: Alena Nguyen
Artistic Director: Eric Nong
Lead Media Producer: Jonathan Pham
Video Editor: Chinh Mai
Communication Specialist: Corey Linh
Copyright: © 2024 Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA)