Portland Women's Film Festival 2009

The epic story of a family forced to emigrate from Laos after the chaos of the secret air war waged by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Kuras has spent the last 23 years chronicling the family's extraordinary journey in this deeply personal, poetic, and emotional film.

This film by local, self-taught, Latina Director, Rebecca Rodriguez was originally released in 2004, won the Best Feature Award at the Reel Women International Film Festival in 2005 and features a soundtrack by Matt Messina – recipient of the 2009 Grammy Award for “Best Compilation” on the JUNO Soundtrack. Rodriguez will be in attendance to discuss the film after the screening. A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit a local nonprofit domestic violence service provider. Synopsis: Lily lives a simple life in the Pacific Northwest, far from the dysfunction of her family. A high school dropout and painfully aware of her limited education, she spends hours at the library trying to improve herself. When her older sister Denise arrives from California with an abusive, drug addicted husband and two damaged children in tow, Lily is thrust into a present day version of her own childhood where she comes face to face with her demons and possibility of murder. It is a film about the darkness in a damaged soul, choices that can change everything, and love without exceptions. Sharon M. Vineyard, LMFT New Beginnings Educational Programs* This movie is an accurate portrayal of the effects of childhood abuse on adults that suffered as children. It demonstrates both poles of reactions as an adult in both sisters; one very obvious and not so obvious in Lily, but never the less the damage is there. The various behaviors that are common to unhealthy families are also demonstrated vividly; the cycle of abuse, the difficulty an abused woman has in leaving her abuser, how the children learn to turn a deaf ear, and the distorted thinking of an abuser, to mention a few. This is a thought provoking movie that has left each of my classes in which I have used it, bothered and reflective in their own actions. I plan to use this film as a regular part of my curriculum. I thank you so much for allowing me to use this film in my Batterer's Treatment Program and Child Abuse / Child Endangerment Program. It’s awesome in its purpose.