Daughter from Danang

Watch Daughter from Danang

  • PG
  • 2002
  • 1 hr 23 min
  • 7.5  (614)
  • 77

Daughter from Danang is a documentary film from 2002 that explores the themes of identity, family, and cultural differences. The film follows the journey of a young woman named Mai Thi Hiep, who was born in Vietnam but later adopted by an American family during the Vietnam War. The film begins by introducing us to Mai Thi Hiep, who has grown up in Tennessee under the name Heidi Neville-Bub. Despite her American upbringing, Mai Thi Hiep expresses a strong desire to reconnect with her birth family in Vietnam. She decides to participate in Operation Babylift, a program that was established to transport Vietnamese orphans to the United States for adoption.

Once in Vietnam, Mai Thi Hiep is reunited with her birth mother, brothers, and sisters for the first time in over two decades. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that the cultural divide between Mai Thi Hiep and her birth family is immense. Mai Thi Hiep struggles to connect with her family, who are still deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture and customs. She is shocked by their poverty and lack of education, and begins to feel uncomfortable and out of place.

The film does an excellent job of showcasing the stark differences between Mai Thi Hiep's American upbringing and her birth family's Vietnamese lifestyle. For example, while Mai Thi Hiep is used to the luxuries of American life, her birth family struggles to make ends meet. At one point, Mai Thi Hiep offers to give her family money, but they refuse, as accepting handouts is seen as shameful in their culture.

Throughout the film, Mai Thi Hiep's idealistic expectations of her reunion with her birth family clash with the realities of their situation. She struggles to reconcile her American upbringing with her Vietnamese heritage, and a rift begins to form between her and her birth family. The film is particularly poignant as it highlights the difficulty of reconciling two vastly different cultures, and the challenges that can arise from trying to bridge that gap.

One particularly touching moment in the film occurs when Mai Thi Hiep shares some American snacks with her birth family. As they eat the snacks, they speak about their cultural differences and the struggle to communicate across language barriers. It is a poignant moment that underscores the difficulty of reconciling two vastly different cultural experiences.

Daughter from Danang is a beautifully shot and deeply moving film that explores the complexities of family, identity, and cultural difference. At its core, the film is a powerful exploration of the human experience and the challenges that can arise from trying to reconcile different cultural backgrounds.

Throughout the film, the viewer is confronted with the intense emotions that arise as Mai Thi Hiep navigates her reunion with her birth family. From anger and frustration, to empathy and understanding, the film captures the full range of human emotions that arise when trying to reconcile different cultural experiences.

Overall, Daughter from Danang is a powerful and thought-provoking film that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to bridge the gap between different cultural experiences. It is a reminder that, despite our differences, we all share a fundamental humanity that binds us together.

Daughter from Danang is a 2002 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 77.

Description
Where to Watch Daughter from Danang
Daughter from Danang is available to watch free on Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download on demand at . Some platforms allow you to rent Daughter from Danang for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2002
  • MPAA Rating
    PG
  • Runtime
    1 hr 23 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.5  (614)
  • Metascore
    77
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