Vietnam War Doc ‘Child of Dust,’ Produced by ‘The Stringer’s’ Bao Nguyen, Acquired by Rise and Shine Ahead of Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

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In simple terms, the Berlin-based company, Rise and Shine World Sales, has obtained the rights to show Weronika Mliczewska’s documentary “Child of Dust” worldwide. This film, directed by Bao Nguyen who is also known for his work on “The Stringer”, will have its first public screening in the main international competition category at Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.

Mliczewska’s second film focuses on Sang, a child left by American soldiers after the Vietnam War, one of many abandoned and stigmatized. For his entire life, he yearns for the father he never knew. A surprising turn of events leads him to find his gravely ill father in the United States. Despite the significant sacrifice of leaving his family in Vietnam behind, Sang is resolute on meeting him.

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In her sophomore effort, Mliczewska tells the story of Sang, a child abandoned and stigmatized following the Vietnam War due to American soldiers. His whole life, he has longed for a father he never knew. A twist in fate leads him to discover his terminally ill father residing in the U.S., compelling him to leave behind his family in Vietnam to meet him, despite the high cost.

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Mliczewska’s sophomore production revolves around Sang, a child left behind by American soldiers post-Vietnam War, one of many shunned and forsaken. His entire life is marked by a longing for the father he never had. A sudden revelation leads him to his ailing father in the U.S., prompting him to sacrifice his family in Vietnam and reunite with this missing piece of his past.

In a strange new world, Sang’s longing to fit in collides with an unforeseen truth, as he feels like a foreigner not just in American culture, but also within a family that was previously unknown to him. Yet, in his quest to find his biological father, he encounters something far deeper — the power within himself to escape his past and reshape his destiny.

Child of Dust”

This film is crafted by Director Mliczewska and produced jointly by Mliczewska, Chi-Minh De Leo, and Bao Nguyen. Notably, the latter is also the director of the buzzworthy Sundance premiere “The Stringer,” which caused a stir due to its assertions that the acclaimed Vietnam War photo known as “Napalm Girl” was incorrectly attributed to a different photographer.

Additional co-producers for this film are Michał Sikora, Antonio Russo Merenda, and Andrzej Łucjanek. The associate producer roles are filled by Jim Stark, Brian Hjort, Paweł Ziemilski, and Mateusz Wajda.

In a statement given to EbMaster, Mliczewska referred to the film’s inception as being deeply personal. She explained that eight years ago, while in Vietnam for another documentary, she came across individuals known as Amerasians – people whose lifelong search for identity had defined their lives. Noticing how deeply emotional these individuals were about not finding their American fathers, even after fifty years, she recognized that this was not a story of the past but one that is ongoing.

Through visiting more than 90 countries and spending extended periods abroad, I’ve experienced firsthand what it’s like to feel out of place, sometimes even in my own homeland. Sang’s tale struck a chord with me because, much like him, I’ve been on a personal quest for identity and enlightenment. Filming Sang’s odyssey transformed me. It spanned numerous continents, coincided with a global pandemic, and occurred during the start of my own family life. Similar to Sang, I discovered that our true home lies in the connections we forge. As an anthropologist by training, my goal is to amplify the voices of those overlooked by history and demonstrate how even the most profound wounds can lead to healing.

Speaking about “Child of Dust,” Anja Dziersk, festival manager at Rise and Shine, deemed it “extraordinarily captivating” and anticipated a long stint in various film festivals following its debut at Thessaloniki. She explained that the movie embodies a deeply relatable yearning for connection and family, a theme reminiscent of the Vietnamese proverb which states, “A child without a father is like a house without a roof.

Stefan Kloos, director of Rise and Shine, highlighted the approximately 300,000 children conceived by U.S. soldiers with Vietnamese women during the Vietnam War, and praised Mliczewska for successfully finding one of these ‘forgotten’ children.

Kloos stated, ‘The movie ‘Child of Dust’ sets itself apart from a good documentary and elevates to exceptional. It illuminates a forgotten past, demonstrating how the effects of war persist in people’s lives today, on both individual and global levels. It poignantly discusses the enduring scars and traumas that every conflict leaves behind.’ This film is a treasure for streaming platforms and public television, especially considering it was released during the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

Mliczewska commented: “Right from the start, Rise and Shine displayed a strong interest in ‘Child of Dust.’ I encountered them for the first time at East Silver Market in Prague, and later at the preliminary stage of dok.incubator, where their genuine enthusiasm for the film immediately struck me. They genuinely believe in this project, which means a great deal to me. What’s more, they are highly skilled professionals who can dedicate their full focus to the projects they select. I have confidence in their passion and expertise to bring this film to the audience it truly deserves.

Ya Man Studio, in collaboration with Lonely Production, Ginestra Film, Clubhouse Films, and FixaFilm, has created the project titled “Child of Dust.” This production is backed by the Polish Film Institute, Telewizja Polska, Al Jazeera Documentary, the Czech Audiovisual Fund, the Swedish Film Institute, the Ministry of Culture under the National Recovery Plan, Creative Vouchers Initiative, and the European Union’s Next Generation E.U. initiative.

The Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival runs March 6 – 16.

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2025-03-05 20:11