The film follows three Cambodian-American teens growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts, as they face the challenges of urban America, learn from traditional culture and dance, and reflect on the sacrifices of their parents, survivors of the Khmer Rouge.
Monkey Dance premiered on public television in May 2005 and has shown at numerous festivals, schools, museums, and youth organizations.
I got a translator and we sat down and started talking about the long hours they worked in the nearby electronics factories; about their struggles as parents of American teenagers; and finally, about their experiences under the Khmer Rouge.
I shot most of the film myself as a one-person crew – riding along in speedy cars, waiting around in supermarket parking lots after hours, eating delicious homemade Cambodian food with the families.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere in rural Ohio, where my family ran a roadside tourist attraction – actually a Native American historical site.
Their spirited synchronization of these elements is part of what enabled these three to overcome difficult childhoods to become strong, successful adults.