In the anthology documentary Southeast Asian American Journeys, its five parts explore the vibrant lives and livelihoods of Southeast Asian American communities across the U.S.: in Philadelphia, where refugee businesses run a thriving market where they celebrate culture, food, and nature; in North Carolina, a Montagnard family keeps their history alive through both traditional and contemporary art forms; in Minnesota, Hmong farmers find meaning and wellness in tending to fertile soil; in Oregon, a Mien family records cassettes as keepsakes of their loved ones; and in California, queer Cambodians use grassroots organizing to fight for their dignity.

Within these stories, participants range from the individuals who migrated to those who grew up stateside, showcasing the exchange of traditions and knowledge between generations. It’s especially poignant to observe these acts of oral storytelling unfold when, as stated in chapters “Threads” and “Mixtape”, some of these communities experience lower levels of literacy.

All three directors (Quyên Nguyễn-Lê, Oanh-Nhi Nguyễn, and Joua Lee Grande) take great care to view these stories through a consistently dignified lens. Historical wartime context is provided not to exploit trauma for entertainment, but to clarify the beauty of how these people have grown beyond it. And what stands out most about this film are the smiles and the laughs, the warmth exuded even amidst recollections of trauma and loss. It makes evident these individuals’ agency on how they define themselves: not merely as victims of war and displacement, but joyful humans bound by shared values of kinship.

By Julian Doan