Film Update: Children of the Mist

POV caught up with Children of the Mist filmmaker Hà Lệ Diễm to provide a window into the making of her film and reflect on the journey since the cameras stopped rolling.

Nestled in the mountains of Northern Vietnam, Children of the Mist weaves a tale of innocence, tradition, and coming of age. Directed by Hà Lệ Diễm, the film provides a sensitive portrayal of Di, a young girl from the Hmong ethnic minority. The film debuted at the 2021 International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, earning Diễm the Award for Best Directing and a Special Mention for the First Appearance Award. Garnering global recognition, it made the Documentary Feature Film shortlist for the 95th Academy Awards®. Other accolades include Best International Film at DocAviv in 2022 and the Documentary Jury Prize at the 2022 Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Diễm’s connection to the narrative is deeply personal and rooted in her own upbringing. “I was born and raised in the mountains of Northern Vietnam, in an ethnic group called Tay,” she shares. Her childhood memories are vivid: “Everyday after school, my friends would gather around me, waiting for me to read them stories. These are the best memories of my life.” Yet, this idyllic childhood was overshadowed when two of her close friends faced early marriages, an event she describes as a “traumatic interruption.”

Drawing parallels between her own experiences and Di’s life in the Hmong village, Diễm recalls the moment she met Di, playing with her friends in the mountains. This encounter served as a “poignant reminder” of her own past. The bond between the filmmaker and her subject deepened when Di posed a heart-wrenching question: “Will your film bring me back to my childhood?” Reflecting on this, Diễm emphasizes, “I think it’s our generation’s story to lose childhood suddenly, and I feel it is so unfair.”

While the film delves into the controversial Hmong tradition of “bride catching,” Diễm clarifies her stance: “I knew for a long time about it, but I used to consider it like a folkloric tradition.” Her intention was not to sensationalize but to provide a “fair representation” of Di’s experiences without passing judgment. Beyond this, the film sheds light on broader societal challenges, such as women’s trafficking and the prevalent issues of sexual abuse and violence in the region. Diễm shares the harrowing revelation that “since I started to shoot, two schoolmates of Di were raped on their way to school. One of them was murdered.”

The documentary’s filming approach underwent a transformation. Initially, Diễm adopted an observational stance, aiming to “document objectively the life of the family I was filming.” However, as relationships deepened, the camera became a tool to record Di’s transformation and to serve as a protective shield against potential threats. Diễm acknowledges this shift, stating, “In a way, Children of the Mist is also the story of my relationship with my protagonists.”

The translation process for Children of the Mist was intricate, especially given the distinct Hmong dialect. Diễm emphasized, “Translating wasn’t just about words; it was capturing the community’s soul.” A Hmong translator first rendered the spoken Hmong into Vietnamese over three months, ensuring every cultural nuance was intact. This was then subtitled and translated into English. To ensure precision, a North Vietnamese Hmong expert meticulously reviewed the subtitles, particularly when the regional Hmong dialect intertwined with Vietnamese terms. Collaborating with trilingual experts, POV fine-tuned the subtitles, upholding authenticity and cultural depth.

Since the completion of the film, Diễm shared that Di’s life has seen significant changes. Now 19 years old, Di is a mother and a wife. She has also ventured into the world of business alongside her mother, running an indigo fabric enterprise that showcases local artisan craftsmanship.

Children of the Mist opens a window into the Hmong culture, the joys of childhood, and the challenges faced by young girls in the community. In Diễm’s words, it’s an invitation for the audience to “discover Hmong-Vietnamese” and a reminder to “Enjoy your childhood!”

Children of the Mist premiered on Monday, July 31st and is available to stream through September 30th.