Friday, December 5
7-9 pm
FREE
Stand-up comedian Fred Le hears the stories of a diverse range of young overseas-born Vietnamese who made their way back to the land that their parents left following the end of the Vietnam War. Le, who himself spent three years in Vietnam, conducts a series of interviews with these overseas-born Vietnamese to explore the allure of the motherland and what it means to “return home.” The Empathizer explores identity and the impact of trauma among Việt kiều (overseas-born) who grew up a generation removed from tragic events of the past, and their desire to experience a country that their parents still mourn.
This special community screening at OACC will feature English and Vietnamese subtitles. It will be followed by an in-person Q&A with documentary producer and director Fred Le. For more on the film, visit www.empathizerdoc.com
It is co-presented by the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network, the Center for Asian American Media, and Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. This event is free, but registration is requested at the link below.
About the Filmmaker
Fred Le is a stand-up comedian and filmmaker who was born in the Bay Area and currently lives in Los Angeles. After spending three years enjoying life in the country his parents had fled in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, he began focusing his creative output on exploring his own Việt kiều (overseas-born) identity. He is the co-creator of the all-Vietnamese comedy showcase Embarrassed by Night which continues to tour up and down California since 2022. His debut feature documentary, The Empathizer, is currently doing festival rounds after premiering at the Viet Film Fest 2024, where it was nominated for Best Feature. As a performer, he has earned invitations to showcase at major festivals such as Treefort, Boom Chicago! in Amsterdam, and San Francisco Sketchfest.
