Forced to flee Vietnam as a child, Chung Truong went on to create a beautiful life and family in the US. But as career and family was settling in, an emptiness overtook him, eventually leading him back to the country he barely remembered but ran deep in his blood. There, he connected with a team of courageous nuns and dedicated volunteers. Together, they built a house for an impoverished family. Then another. Soon there were hundreds… Educational programs would follow. And a ripple effect that would change the lives of thousands…
Documentary status:
The documentary is in the final stages of post-production; submissions to film festivals for 2023 are in progress. Stay tuned for the 2023 film premiere!
Breaking news: the documentary will be shown at the SAFILM Festival, San Antonio (August 1-5, 2023) and the LA India Film Festival (Sept 7-17, 2023)
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Narrator: actor Paul Dano
Paul Dano is known from movies such as “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006), “There will be blood” (2007), “Cowboys and Aliens” (2011), “12 years a slave” (2013), “Love & Mercy” (2014), “The Batman” (2022), and is in the current Steven Spielberg movie “The Fabelmans“.
Director: Andy Lauer/ReelAid
ReelAid founder/filmmaker Andy Lauer is directing the film. For 14 years ReelAid has made professional videos for nonprofit organizations. ReelAid’s work has covered HIV/AIDS, deaf youth, and women’s health rights among other topics, and has included the talents, pro bono, of Jeremy Irons, Brad Pitt, Adrien Brody, Sidney Poitier and director Peter Berg.
Andy Lauer, a feature and TV writer/director has mentored under filmmakers Oliver Stone, Michael Bay, comedic master, James Burrows and action/drama wiz, Peter Berg – most recently directing two projects for his company (Friday Night Lights). He has shot on every medium in the toughest of conditions (The North Pole) and the most unique (underwater, inside shark cages).
He is also the resident director on the single-camera hit comedy The Adventures of Velvet Prozak. Lauer’s project The Hill That Chris Climbed won Best Feature at LA Film and Script Festival and Best Direction at NY International. The film follows fallen High School footballers and features Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) football legends Mike Ditka, Kurt Warner, Deacon Jones, Dallas Cowboys Owner, Jerry Jones and Commentator Al Michaels. And a sister-documentary film Tackling, Executive Produced by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Battleship). He also had triple duties directing/writing/producing The Tehuacan Project, a tender story about deaf children defying incredible obstacles in rural Mexico (Brad Pitt executive producer). He serves on the board of Sahaya International.
Editor and Sounds Design: Luke Charles Fisher
Director of Photography: Erik Lauer/ Nash Hagen
Original Score: Damir Price/ Bernard Kane
Sahaya International:
Sahaya International is a 100% volunteer-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization, based in Davis, California. It was founded in 1999 by HIV researcher Dr. Koen Van Rompay after an inspiring trip to India. 
Nearly 10 years ago, Sahaya International and ReelAid first teamed up to produce the film Sahaya Going Beyond about the early days of Sahaya’s partnership with the people of rural India in their struggle for education, economic opportunity and healthcare, including treatment for children and adults suffering from HIV/AIDS. The film, narrated pro bono by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, spotlighted the inspiring transformation of a rural Indian community rising up to shatter the stigma and spread of AIDS, build schools and micro-businesses, and live with greater health, dignity and hope.
To view the documentary for free, click here or click on the DVD cover image.
The film Sahaya Going Beyond, with its focus on India, took Sahaya International to the next level by widening our ripple effect of “making a difference”. It has proven successful by increasing Sahaya’s visibility and furthering Sahaya’s programs of healthcare, education and socio-economic development in India.
Sahaya International and ReelAid have teamed up together once again to produce “The Journey Home, the story of Sahaya Vietnam” , which features the inspiring journey of the programs of Sahaya Vietnam. The story of people who triumph over despair: families moving from makeshift shelters to a sturdy home and more dignified life; children gaining access to schools, and then thriving; and communities previously isolated, now building much-needed bridges to safely cross rivers. The film reveals what we can achieve – supporters, donors and communities across the world – when we join together to overcome obstacles and build a better future. Together, more than 200 homes have been built, and more than 250 scholarships have been given to needy students.
READ BELOW ABOUT HOW YOU CAN STILL BECOME A SPONSOR. While the movie credits have been finalized, we will still add your name to the list of supporters below.
Any amount we raise above what is needed to finish the documentary will be used to help children and families in Sahaya’s programs.
You can use this form below for online donations. To mail a check, make it payable to “Sahaya International” with mention “movie” and mail it to Sahaya International, 1504 Portola Street, Davis CA 95616. Click here to download the sponsorship form to mail with your check. or add a note on how you like to be acknowledged, and provide us with your email ID so we can e-mail you the receipt.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Koen Van Rompay (Founder; Secretary); Chung Truong, Board member and Sahaya Vietnam coordinator; Ramin Yazdani (President)
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Some of the pictures taken on the trip in April 2019 when the documentary was recorded (click on the pictures to see a larger version)
