US documentary on Vietnamese AO/dioxin victim screened

The screening of the 34-minute documentary titled “Chau: Beyond the Lines” about the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam began on December 10 in New York.

The documentary tells the story of Chau, an AO/dioxin victim who struggles to realise his dream of becoming an artist.

The film, directed by Courtney Marsh, tells the story of Chau, a teenager living in a Ho Chi Minh care centre for children disabled by AO, who battles with the reality of his dream to one day become a professional artist.

The documentary aims to provide the American public with a clearer view on the suffering of many Vietnamese people many decades after the end of war.

“Chau: Beyond the Lines” has been shortlisted by the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the documentary (short subject) category along with nine other documentaries, five of which will earn Oscar nominations.

The film, made in seven years from 2007 to 2014, was earlier honoured at the Austin Film Festival and the USA Film Festival as the best documentary short.

The young director Courtney Marsh said eight years ago when she visited the Hoa Binh Peace Village in Ho Chi Minh City where children affected by AO/dioxin are given care, she felt an urge to do something and later decided to make a film.

She said it would be wonderful if the documentary could open the door for positive changes.

After the screening finished, the entire audience signed an open letter written by the Ford Foundation’s Special Initiative on Agent Orange/Dioxin calling on the US Congress to deal with the consequences of AO/dioxin in Vietnam.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)