HONORING MY MOTHER: A Pursuit of Justice and Healing
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Summary
In 1983, my mother was tragically murdered by a fellow Vietnamese refugee. Four decades later, I am embarking on a journey of redemption and understanding. This effort involves seeking closure through restorative justice dialogue with the man who took her life and sharing my journey through a documentary film called SEA ROSE ASHES. The film will tell the unfolding story of restorative justice, the repatriation of her ashes to Vietnam in the fall of 2024, and my intended second return to Vietnam at the beginning of 2026. That second return will be to document my mother's and my boat voyage as refugees. With this project, I seek not only personal healing and moral transcendence, but also to explore universal themes of justice, memory, trauma, and forgiveness.
What We’re Raising Funds For:
1. Cover legal, investigative, and administrative costs tied to my ongoing pursuit of restorative justice. This includes third-party mediation, legal counsel, independent investigation, and engaging the legal and law enforcement team involved in my mother’s case—all of whom are now retired but still living.
2. Return to Vietnam in early 2026 to film a second chapter: a retracing of the harrowing boat voyage we made as refugees from the Mekong River out to the South China Sea—this time, seen through my mother’s eyes. It is both a cinematic act of remembrance and a ritual to honor her immense courage and resilience.
3. Cover production and post-production on SEA ROSE ASHES, the film that tells this story of immigration, restorative justice, and repatriation in the broader context of both personal and historical conditions.
Why This Matters:
Independent projects like ours exist in a shrinking landscape. Currently, public arts funding is rapidly dwindling and institutions like NPR, PBS, and the NEA are all campaigning aggressively for direct-donor support. And while their work is vital, many independent voices like mine, will fall through the cracks.
That’s why we turn to you in this strange hour of the American story. When you give to this deeply personal endeavor, you’re helping to carry forward an honest message of peace and hope.
Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to completing this meaningful project. Thank you very much for your time.
With love and gratitude,
Vu
For more information, please visit the links below:
Organizer
Hoan-Vu Pham
Organizer
Portland, OR