The film draws largely from Khoa Do's own experiences as a Vietnamese refugee,[2][3] and reflects on the perceived fear in the general population generated by 'boat people' which is prevalent in Australian politics and discourse.

In the evening when the workers have left, she is transported back to the night she and her sister (Sheena Pham) fled her homeland, led by an uncle promising to reunite them with their father.

[9] A defining feature of Mother Fish is that it was shot in a similar style to Lars von Trier's Dogville, by setting all the action entirely within the sweatshop.

[11] Hieu Phan, who plays the woman's Uncle, was a refugee who made the crossing 30 years ago, and has spoken of weeping in rehearsals as the memory of his own boat journey came back to him.

[11] On 19 April 2010, Mother Fish had its theatrical premiere at Riverside Theatres Parramatta,[15] coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Vietnamese settlement in Australia.