“I was drawn to the fragility and tenderness of these characters and the opportunity to tell a story of not just the events but how these people came to be and the decisions they make,” explains Lee, who wrote the script with playwright Christopher Chen and won the dramatic directing prize with the film at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023.
The idea of home lost and found is another theme. Little Saigon has been a nucleus for the Vietnamese American community since the fall of Saigon in 1975, when many of the two million who fled that country resettled in suburban Orange County. Many more followed in subsequent decades, and today its bustling shops, markets, and restaurants serve locals, tourists, and weekend visitors alike, all less than an hour’s drive southeast of Los Angeles.
Photo: Sing J. Lee
“It’s on the doorstep of so many, and yet it’s a place many aren’t aware of,” Lee admits. “You don’t feel like you’re in Los Angeles. It has this beating heart and confidence in identity, and the warmth you feel is infectious. People are walking memories, and certain generations have been custodians of their traditions. But each generation struggles with its own identity.”
Recently from his home in Los Angeles, the British-born director—who previously created music videos with artists like Pharrell, Charli XCX, Alicia Keys, and Halsey—discussed some of the film’s significant Little Saigon locations.
Chez Rose
9191 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster
