Independent Lens Season 3 Episode 8 The Split Horn

"The Split Horn" is an emotionally powerful episode of the documentary series "Independent Lens," which chronicles the struggles and triumphs of a Hmong family living in Minnesota. The Hmong are an ethnic group from Southeast Asia who were recruited by the CIA during the Vietnam War to fight against the communists. When the war ended, many Hmong refugees were resettled in the United States, where they faced new challenges in adapting to a foreign land and maintaining their traditional culture.

The focus of "The Split Horn" is the Yang family, who come from a village in Laos where music is an essential part of community life. When they arrived in the U.S., they found it difficult to keep their musical traditions alive. The father, Pao, struggles to provide for his family as a construction worker. Meanwhile, his wife, May, is torn between her desire to preserve their cultural heritage and her duty to raise their children in a new environment. Their eldest son, Song, who was born in Laos and raised in the U.S., feels alienated from both cultures. He is unsure whether he belongs to the old world or the new one.

Despite these challenges, the Yang family persists in their love of music, particularly the "qeej," a type of bamboo trumpet that is played in Hmong ceremonies. Pao plays the qeej at funerals and other events, but he is frustrated by the lack of interest among his children and the younger Hmong generation. May, meanwhile, decides to organize a concert featuring qeej players from Laos, hoping to inspire her children and others to appreciate the music that is so important to their identity.

The preparation for the concert is a major focus of the episode, and it is an impressive feat of grassroots organizing. May travels to Laos to recruit the qeej players, who live in remote villages and speak little English. With the help of a Hmong-language interpreter, May negotiates with a variety of officials, including the village chief, the district governor, and the Hmong liaison to the Lao government. She also collects donations from members of the Hmong community in the Twin Cities and arranges for the qeej players to perform in several venues, including a Hmong New Year celebration.

Throughout the episode, we see how music serves as a bridge between cultures, both for the Yangs and for the qeej players. Despite the language and cultural barriers, the musicians form a bond through their shared love of the qeej. They practice together, teach each other songs, and enjoy each other's company. The Yang children, too, are drawn to the qeej, especially after they hear the players perform in person. Song, in particular, is moved by the music and by the connection he feels to his Hmong heritage.

Overall, "The Split Horn" is a moving and insightful look at the challenges faced by immigrant families in America, and the power of music to unite and inspire people from different backgrounds. It is an excellent example of the kind of thought-provoking and emotionally engaging documentary that "Independent Lens" is known for, and a must-see for anyone interested in the Hmong culture or the experiences of refugees in the U.S.