Vietnam War Doc ‘Child of Dust,' Produced by ‘The Stringer's' Bao Nguyen, Acquired by Rise and Shine Ahead of Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
Mliczewska's sophomore feature follows Sang, one of countless children left behind by American soldiers after the Vietnam War. Stigmatized and abandoned, he spends a lifetime longing for the father he never had. When he unexpectedly locates his gravely ill father in the U.S., he's determined to meet him, even at the heavy cost of leaving his own family behind in Vietnam.
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In an unfamiliar land, Sang's dream of belonging clashes with an unexpected reality, as he finds himself an outsider both in American society and within a family that never knew he existed. But in the search for his father, he discovers something even more profound — his own strength to break free from the past and redefine his future.
'Child of Dust' is written and directed by Mliczewska and produced by Mliczewska, Chi-Minh De Leo and Bao Nguyen, director of the buzzy Sundance premiere 'The Stringer,' which sparked controversy over its claims that the legendary Vietnam War photo of 'Napalm Girl' was deliberately credited to the wrong photographer. The film is also co-produced by Michał Sikora, Antonio Russo Merenda and Andrzej Łucjanek. Associate producers are Jim Stark, Brian Hjort, Paweł Ziemilski and Mateusz Wajda.
In a director's statement provided to Variety, Mliczewska described the film's origins as 'deeply personal.' 'Eight years ago, while in Vietnam for another documentary, I encountered Amerasians — people whose lifelong search for identity had shaped their lives. Seeing how deeply emotional they still were about not finding their American fathers — even 50 years later — I realized this is not a story of the past, but of the present,' she wrote.
'Having traveled to over 90 countries and living abroad for years, I understand what it means to feel like an outsider — even in my own country. Sang's story resonated with me because, like him, I've been on a quest for identity and understanding,' she continued. 'Filming Sang's journey changed me. It unfolded across continents, during a global pandemic, as I was starting my own family. Like Sang, I learned that true home is found in the bonds we build. With a background in anthropology, I aim to give voice to those erased from history and show how even the deepest scars can lead to healing.'
Describing 'Child of Dust' as 'truly amazing' and predicting a lengthy festival run after its Thessaloniki premiere, Rise and Shine festival manager Anja Dziersk said the film 'stands for a very universal longing for connection and belonging to a family,' one that underscores the Vietnamese saying that 'a child without a father is like a house without a roof.'
Stefan Kloos, Rise and Shine's managing director, pointed to the estimated 300,000 children that U.S. soldiers had with Vietnamese women during the Vietnam War and said Mliczewska 'did a tremendous job in locating one of those left-behind children.'
''Child of Dust' achieves what distinguishes a good documentary from an outstanding one: It sheds light on this forgotten history, it reveals how the legacy of war continues to shape lives today — and on a universal level it speaks about the scars and traumas that every war leaves behind,' said Kloos. 'This film is a real gem for streamers and public television and so timely with the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam.'
Mliczewska added: 'From the very beginning, Rise and Shine's enthusiasm for 'Child of Dust' stood out. I first met them in Prague at East Silver Market and later at the rough cut stage preview at dok.incubator, where I instantly felt their genuine excitement for the film. They truly believe in it, and that connection means a lot to me. At the same time, they are highly professional, and as a boutique company, they can give full attention to the projects they choose. I trust their passion and expertise to bring this film to the audience it deserves.'
'Child of Dust' is produced by Ya Man Studio in co-production with Lonely Production, Ginestra Film, Clubhouse Films and FixaFilm, with the support of the Polish Film Institute, Telewizja Polska, Al Jazeera Documentary, the Czech Audiovisual Fund, the Swedish Film Institute, the Ministry of Culture within the National Recovery Plan, Creative Vouchers Initiative and the European Union's Next Generation E.U. initiative.
The Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival runs March 6 – 16.
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