This program has 7 films. Toggle between film descriptions by clicking on the buttons at the top right.
DONUT KID illustrates the story of Ben, a second-generation Cambodian American who grew up folding pink boxes and selling pastries from behind the counters of his refugee parent’s donut shop. Beyond the neon-colored storefront, you'll discover a sweet tale of community resilience, survival, and familial love.
Director - Michelle Thach
Following the political violence and tragic events of the 1970s in Cambodia, there was a large influx of Khmer refugees who opened small, mom-and-pop donut shops as a means of survival in the U.S. Throughout the years, donut shops have gradually become symbols of the sacrifice, dedication, and resilience of Cambodian American communities. Having grown up around these mom-and-pop shops, they hold a special and sentimental place in my heart. While watching my parent’s generation grow older I realized that the fate of these donut shops is currently in limbo as the original shop owners gradually age and retire. With my and Ben’s generation reaching the formative age where we are defining our future and choosing our life-long careers, I wanted to explore whether or not the legacy of Californian, Cambodian-owned donut shops will be kept alive by the donut kids, or if these shops will gradually fade into obsolescence, having served their purpose as a means of survival for the initial waves of refugees. Nonetheless, I hoped to memorialize Cambodian donut shops and the stories of the families behind them, because few stories are as emblematic of the Cambodian-American experience as growing up around these community pillars.
- Year2021
- Runtime9 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremierePacific Northwest
- DirectorMichelle Thach
- ProducerRenee Tajima-Peña, Janet Chen
- CastBenjamin Kim
- CinematographerBrandon Soun
- EditorMichelle Thach, Brandon Soun
This program has 7 films. Toggle between film descriptions by clicking on the buttons at the top right.
DONUT KID illustrates the story of Ben, a second-generation Cambodian American who grew up folding pink boxes and selling pastries from behind the counters of his refugee parent’s donut shop. Beyond the neon-colored storefront, you'll discover a sweet tale of community resilience, survival, and familial love.
Director - Michelle Thach
Following the political violence and tragic events of the 1970s in Cambodia, there was a large influx of Khmer refugees who opened small, mom-and-pop donut shops as a means of survival in the U.S. Throughout the years, donut shops have gradually become symbols of the sacrifice, dedication, and resilience of Cambodian American communities. Having grown up around these mom-and-pop shops, they hold a special and sentimental place in my heart. While watching my parent’s generation grow older I realized that the fate of these donut shops is currently in limbo as the original shop owners gradually age and retire. With my and Ben’s generation reaching the formative age where we are defining our future and choosing our life-long careers, I wanted to explore whether or not the legacy of Californian, Cambodian-owned donut shops will be kept alive by the donut kids, or if these shops will gradually fade into obsolescence, having served their purpose as a means of survival for the initial waves of refugees. Nonetheless, I hoped to memorialize Cambodian donut shops and the stories of the families behind them, because few stories are as emblematic of the Cambodian-American experience as growing up around these community pillars.
- Year2021
- Runtime9 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- PremierePacific Northwest
- DirectorMichelle Thach
- ProducerRenee Tajima-Peña, Janet Chen
- CastBenjamin Kim
- CinematographerBrandon Soun
- EditorMichelle Thach, Brandon Soun