Duong Ngoc Lang
Friday evening, September 27, 2024 at Lavender Hall on Beach Street, Westminster, California; More than 400 compatriots attended the boat people memorial night and watched the film Boat People – 50 Year Journey.
This night was organized by the office of California Congressman Ta Duc Tri to introduce Resolution HR121 that he submitted to recognize September as Vietnamese Boat People Month and was approved by the California House of Representatives. Next is to honor Mr. and Mrs. Thai Tu Hap – Ai Cam, owners of Saigon Times newspaper; erected a boat people monument at the Peel Family cemetery; honoring musician Tran Chi Phuc who wrote many sea-crossing songs and organizing many boat people-themed music nights, honoring director Thanh Tam of the film 50 Years of Boat People’s Journey; Lawyer Nguyen Quoc Lan provided legal assistance to fellow boat people many years ago, musician Cao Minh Hung and the Artist Love Club.
The music part includes Phong Dinh singing a medley of Wherever My Body Is Now and Crossing the Sea of Human Love, Tran Chi Phuc with a medley of Thank You for the Heart of the World and Hanh Khuc of Boat People, 4 songs of Tran Chi Phuc crossing the sea with the sound of author’s Spanish guitar.
The Artist Love Club sings the Vietnamese Boat People song and the boat people song Phuong Eyes.
Next is the introduction of director Thanh Tam and the screening of the film Boat People – 50 Year Journey, about 1 hour and 45 minutes long.
This is a fairly complete and meticulously made documentary about Vietnamese boat people, recording historical events, filming scenes of Southeast Asian refugee camps, interviewing many boat people who have settled in Canada, Listen to the story of dangerous sea crossings in the past.
Most touching were a few female boat people who courageously told their stories of being raped by Thai pirates. According to director Thanh Tam, this is the most difficult job – how to convince and create emotions for the victim to say the tragic misfortune that happened in their life. Opening the wound in the heart is painful, but then the torment in the soul is relieved.
Director Thanh Tam studied film at Toronto Film School. Her first film, Shadows of the Past, was shown in 2023. From this film, a Canadian television station invited her to direct the film 50 Years of Boat People’s Journey.
In the past few months, director Thanh Tam has shown this film in Canadian cities with large Vietnamese residents such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver… Next, he will go to Australia, Europe, and then to the United States to screen the film. in San Jose, Houston, Dallas, Oklohama, New Mexico…
Particularly in Orange County, the capital of Vietnamese Refugees Overseas, the movie screening night 50 Years of Boat People’s Journey on Friday, September 27, 2024, gave director Thanh Tam special joy.
The audience watched the movie with their hearts full of emotions, recalling the story of the Vietnamese boat people’s escape.
After the screening, director Thanh Tam answered some questions from viewers. The upcoming film 50 Years of Boat People’s Journey will be posted on social networks for widespread dissemination. Some community education activists asked to use this film to introduce Vietnamese students to the topic of boat people.
Director Thanh Tam is making a film called From The Ashes Of War about the history of the Republic of Vietnam’s Army, Civilians and Officials. The film, with an estimated cost of 500 thousand dollars, was made within 18 months and will be released at the end of 2025, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Free South falling into Communist hands.
According to director Thanh Tam, recording the nation’s historical events during this painful period from living witnesses has become more urgent than ever. Future generations need to understand the story of betrayed soldiers, separated families, and destitute people.
For all inquiries about director Thanh Tam, please email: [email protected]
The night of remembering the boat people and watching the movie Boat People – 50 Year Journey in Orange County left the 400 spectators with immense historical sadness. Please watch Youtube, Phong Dinh sings Wherever My Body Is Now – Crossing the Sea of Human Love: