We had been following the troupe for a year. We ate in communal houses, slept on the floor or on a hammock with the artists and gradually, the nature of people from Western Vietnam embedded into ours. Mosquitoes, dirt, and hardship did not bother us any longer. I still remember when we first started, mosquito repellent was our must-have belonging otherwise we would be beaten all over our body. Performances were at night but the stage was full of light, mosquitoes did not go for the audiences, they only bit the ones on stage. We were with them all the time, we were close with the artists and also with the mosquitoes, how could we forget?

One advantage of direct documentary filmmaking is that it allows myself as the filmmaker to naturally step into a character’s life. Initially a stranger, I gradually was welcomed into their inherently private world with more intimate moments . We believe that it was sincerity and desire to learn that has helped us to set aside our own prejudices, to understand and appreciate our characters, and ultimately to tell stories about their life experiences as close to how they are lived.

This journey, hopefully, will bring to our audiences a fruitful and emotional cinematic experience. We look forward to receiving support from press and media outlets in whole and in part of this journey.

Thank you very much!