Oanh-Nhi Nguyen

Linh, a disillusioned Vietnamese woman carrying out evictions for a landlord, is instructed to evict Vietnamese refugees. She must decide whether to follow through with their eviction or reject it in solidarity.

When her mother is forced to leave their family’s bustling food stand, a determined immigrant girl must team up with her pesky kid brother to keep things running — and earn enough to give their mom a rare night off to attend her choir concert.

This documentary follows different refugee communities across the US, from Montagnard in North Carolina to the Mien in Oregon. Interviews with California Vietnamese mamas with queer kids, a collective of Southeast Asian vendors at FDR Park, canvassing youth, and Hmong farmers who trade crops with their neighbors, unearth untold unique refugee stories.

Taking Root amplifies the stories of Southeast Asians who resettled in Philadelphia after the Wars in Southeast Asia. It highlights the intergenerational impact of structural violence and demonstrates the power of Southeast Asians in resisting and rebuilding in America.