Ellen Kuras: The Betrayal April 3, 2009

Introduced by Ellen Kuras on April 3.

"Powerful! A film essay that takes account of pain, resilience, and the sheer strangeness of recent memory."—A. O. Scott, The New York Times

Celebrated cinematographer Ellen Kuras returns to the Wexner Center (after an extensive 2006 retrospective) to present her heartfelt directorial debut, an Oscar nominee for best documentary feature. Filmed over the course of 23 years, the haunting documentary follows a Laotian family's traumatic efforts to start a new life in America. Fleeing the new Communist leaders in the wake of the U.S.-backed covert war in Laos, the family settles in Brooklyn only to discover a harsh reality (instead of the American dream) and encounter continually surprising turns of events. The gripping film gives us a story of what it means to be in exile, of the far-reaching consequences of war, and of the resilient bonds of family. (96 mins., 35mm)

Official Website: http://www.wexarts.org/fv/index.php?eventid=3677