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  • The Empathizer (2024)
  • 59 min | Documentary, Comedy
The Empathizer (2024)
59 min | Documentary, Comedy
In The Empathizer, director Fred Le travels to Vietnam to explore why his mother refuses to return to the homeland she left. There, he interviews a number of Vietnamese expatriates who have made a living in Vietnam, including artists, ...See moreIn The Empathizer, director Fred Le travels to Vietnam to explore why his mother refuses to return to the homeland she left. There, he interviews a number of Vietnamese expatriates who have made a living in Vietnam, including artists, athletes, business owners, and students. Each discusses the contradictions between what they learned about Vietnam during their own Western upbringings and their experiences in present-day Vietnam. It might appear, at first, that The Empathizer is leaning so heavily on the views of the young Viet kieu (the Vietnamese diaspora) who emigrated back to Vietnam, but Le eventually returns to the source of why this film exists. And when he does, The Empathizer finds its emotional and moral center. Aptly titled, The Empathizer pushes the audience to consider the diverse viewpoints and experiences of the various Vietnamese diaspora approaches to Vietnam. It blends humor and gravity in articulating the lasting effects of division, suspicion and animosity borne out of war, forced migration, and politics. The film speaks directly to the children of Vietnamese refugees who seek to empathize with the tribulations of their parents, but often cannot fully grasp the effects of displacement-induced trauma. Highlighting the rift between generations, The Empathizer pushes the audience to explore ways to build empathy and understanding. Written by Y Nguyen See less
Read more: Plot summary
Directors
Fred Le (directed by) | Bret Hamilton (co-director)
Writer
Fred Le
Producers
Fred Le | Hak Lonh
Cinematographer
Bret Hamilton
Editors
Fred Le (additional editing) | Hak Lonh (edited by) | Clara Lorant Saldaña (additional editing) | Linh Tran (additional editing)
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Status
Edit Completed
Updated Nov 19, 2024
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21 cast members
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