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Filmmaker Unearths Family Secrets Through Hybrid Documentary
4 Oct
Summary
- A daughter transforms her father's memoir into an inventive hybrid film.
- The film explores family trauma and secrets from Vietnam and Iran.
- Relatives actively participated in recreating past memories on screen.
Documentary filmmaker Ashley Duong has adapted her father's memoir into "Ba's Book," a unique film that merges documentary with dramatic re-enactments. The film delves into her father's experiences during the Vietnam War and his subsequent refugee journey in 1970s Iran, before he settled in Canada in 1980.
Duong's father, known as Ba, had kept painful memories hidden until the 2024 publication of his memoir. "Ba's Book" also uncovers untold torment concerning his separation from his mother and relatives in Vietnam, details omitted from his written account. These family members play a crucial role, providing emotional depth and helping to reveal hidden secrets.
To facilitate open dialogue about past traumas, Duong employed a hybrid documentary-narrative model. Her relatives contributed to set design and casting, even portraying their younger selves through re-enactments. This collaborative approach allowed the family to confront and discuss events they had never spoken about before, creating a powerful shared experience on screen.
