''Home of Strangers'' is the first feature film from writer and director Doan Nguyen. The film was released at the

Schonell Theatre The Schonell Cinema & Live Theatre is a venue for theatre, special events and cinema screenings in Brisbane, Australia. It consists of Theatre One: a 420-seat, single auditorium theatre capable of hosting musical performances, plays and lectures ...

, Brisbane,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, on 1 August 2009.University of Queensland
/ref>

Plot

''Home of Strangers'' is a story of three individuals whose unique paths cross unexpectedly - who are led on a journey to resolve their own personal conflicts and learn about the importance of relationship. Ben is a young Vietnamese Californian gangster. He escapes the unfulfillable demands and violence of a criminal life and flees to Brisbane. In this quiet town Ben is offered a friendship, a lover and a family. Ben soon realises that he cannot outrun his past as Dean, the gangs leader, comes to reclaim his most prized asset. The young and innocent Vietnamese girl Lien is placed out of her comfort zone as she travels to Australia to attend university and make her family proud. But her experiences are far from what she anticipated, and she must keep the reality of her situation from her parents. Chavonne has just left one of her many relationships. She dreams of one day finding genuine love. She shoulders the weight of responsibility at home, looking after her younger sister and alcoholic father after the death of her mother.

Cast

* Jimmy Huynh as Ben Huynh * Nicole Pritchard as Chavonne de Lorme * Kare Truong as Lien Pham * Lindy Morrison as Chavonne's grandma

Details

The film was self-financed by Doan Nguyen, and everyone involved was a volunteer as there was no money to pay them. Many of those involved were students who wanted to get experience in movie making, without having to move to another city. ''Home of Strangers'' is the first Brisbane-based cross-cultural film produced by Passage Entertainment in Brisbane.Passage Entertainment
/ref> The movie also raised funds in support of a Vietnamese orphanage through the Que Huong Charity.

External links

* * http://www.schonell.com/
Asian Australian Studies - Film Poster

References

2009 films Australian action drama films 2000s English-language films 2000s Australian films {{2000s-Australia-film-stub