HCM CITY—  A TV series on the life of Vietnamese-Americans in California will air on HCM City Television (HTV) in December this year.

The 30-part series, Cali Mùa Hoa Vàng (Yellow Seasons in California), was produced by IMC-TodayTV and Hoàng Duẩn, former director of the HCM City Theatre.

The series includes lively scenes in HCM City, Cần Thơ and California filmed by a professional staff led by veteran director Xuân Phước, who has spent time living in the US.

The film depicts the life of Vietnamese-Americans, focusing on challenges and conflicts they faced to reach success in career and love after leaving their homeland.

It also features the thoughts and hopes of the elderly who settled in the United States but left their soul in Việt Nam.

"Audiences can learn more about Vietnamese-Americans, who come from different backgrounds but still spread the Vietnamese culture and lifestyle to younger generations,” said Duẩn, who is also the film’s scriptwriter. 

Duẩn travelled to several cities in the US to talk with many Americans of Vietnamese origin, spending more than six months in California, where 1.3 million of them live.

“I have several Vietnamese-American friends working in music and theatre, who want to discover themselves through traditional Vietnamese art. I shared their dreams and thoughts,” said Duẩn, in his interview with local media.  

"I worked hard to make my screenplay realistic to help audiences understand the life and the ‘American dream’ in the right way," he said.

The films include veteran comedian Bảo Quốc and young actors such as Lương Thế Thành, Thúy Diễm, Kha Ly and Thanh Duy.   

“I decided to play a role in Duẩn’s film because I have experience in living overseas. I understand what older Vietnamese-Americans want from their children. I believe the film’s messages about love and family will help audiences,” said Quốc, who lives in California with his daughter’s family. —VNS