A Village Called Versailles

This landmark film was chosen as a retrospective film for our 20th anniversary. “A Village Called Versailles,” originally screened in our 2010 festival, and went on to be nominated for an Emmy award.

Versailles, an isolated community in eastern New Orleans was settled by Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Vietnamese American residents of Versailles impressively rose to the challenges by returning and rebuilding before any other flooded neighborhood in New Orleans, only to have their homes threatened by a new government-imposed urban redevelopment and a toxic landfill two miles away. “A Village Called Versailles” recounts the empowering story of how this group of people, in spite of suffering so much in their lifetime, turns a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change and a chance for a better future. 

This film contains depiction of trauma/disaster aftermath.

For more information: avillagecalledversailles.com

Association of Vietnamese Americans logo

Screening of this film sponsored by the Association of Vietnamese Americans.

Since directing A Village Called Versailles, filmmaker S. Leo Chiang has continued to direct consequential films about the American experience, including a sequel to this film, “Mr. Cao Goes to Washington,” winner of our Best Documentary award and the 2012 DC APA Film Festival opening night presentation. “Mr. Cao Goes to Washington” traces the unexpected journey of Rep. Joseph Cao - the first Vietnamese American elected to the US congress, as he navigates the ultra-partisan struggles in Washington. Information about these films and others including his latest film, “Our Time Machine” can be found at http://sleochiang.com/films/.

Chiang is a producer on the series of “ASIAN AMERICANS,” an unprecedented 5-hour series on the Asian American experience that airs on PBS in May 2020. Join us on May 1st for a preview screening of “Asian Americans,” followed by a Q&A with filmmakers, presented by the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/.

Director: S. Leo Chiang

Country of Origin: United States

Year of Production: 2009

Language: English, Vietnamese with English subtitles

Runtime: 67:00

Festival Year: 2010

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