Filmmaker Mark Tran was a 19-year-old San Jose State University student when he wrote the screenplay for his feature debut, All About Dad (Audience Award winner, Cinequest FF), based on his experiences growing up in a large Vietnamese family in California. The main character, Ty, is based loosely upon himself – a biology major about to give up his studies to pursue filmmaking.
Newcomer Chi Pham steals the show as the patriarch of the Do family, the head figure who only sees hard work, Catholicism, higher education, and loyalty to family as the only means to achieve happiness and success in life. But as Mr. Do discovers the inner passions and dreams of his four children, his world begins to unravel. An intense family drama that is at once comedic, touching and heartbreaking, All About Dad portrays a father who must come to terms with accepting his children as they are, or risk losing them. Mr. Tran’s first feature is a fine portrait of a Vietnamese American family trying to keep up with the times.
Continue watching more movies on the DigiFest page.
Type: American feature film
Genre:
Feature Films,
Melodrama
Tags:
Asian American,
family,
relationships,
Chi Pham,
David Hyunh,
DigiFest,
Mark Tran,
SDAFF,
Vietnamese,
Yen Ly,
Yvonne Truong,
feature film
Click to rate
All I can say is I enjoyed this movie alot. It was funny and touching. Everybody did a good job with their part but I especialy enjoyed the bickery between the brothers, it made me think of my boys. Family is sometimes rough but we love eachother!! you should watch this!!
while i do NOT know one vietnamese woman who is as meek and docile as the mother in this movie, the similarities between my family and the family in this movie are quite humorous. my parents act almost exactly like the father, only much more stern and conservative. with that said, being someone who gets to view a family going through the same challenges is interesting to watch.
Like the film, there are some funny & heart warming moments. everyone played their part well. Good ending and I love the singer voice!
Heart warming and funny! gave it a 5 star 'cause of the age of the director and his first film.
Although it wasn't perfectly done, it was really good for a first film from the filmmaker! Very heart warming too! :)
My congrats for Mark Tran, such a young filmaker & his screenplay already could catch some special sides of our life. The father has to let the tree grow as it is as well as let the kids live on as they like, to bring happiness to everyone...Very good & constructive movie, promising a bright future for this young filmaker. Myself, I admire him for doing such movies like this, to instruct all despotic fathers to rethink their ways for their kids' benefits & for themselves. Myself, I couldn't realize my dream of becoming a professional pianist because of my father!:( And Huynh David as Ty Do is a very cute & good-looking guy! Wish him success in his acting career!:)
I really enjoyed this film...there were some really funny moments that made me bust out laughing and yea, some awe moments when I felt for the parents. Great job on this one!
it was a common story nothing exceptional and in real life is more complicated but we know that it's a story that it has to be finished in less than 2 hours...bad cinematography...loved the singer and her voice :)
I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and then I smiled. Whether you're watching this from the eyes of the parents or the eyes of the children, this story has a lesson for both sides. I truly enjoyed it because it was like watching my own life being played out. There's 2 boys and 2 girls in my family and we all went our own ways, I know it was rough on our parents, but we got through it all...we're going through it all...together. We all had our lessons to learn, and we all chose to love and grow closer. The ending of the movie is also possible in real life. This is a good one.
Accepting our children just the way they are...and knowing that not everything that we as parents think are important are necessarily as important to our children. The "catholic" thing reminded me of my daughter who became a Methodist but it doesn't take away from her being a good person and marrying a good person. Acceptance of changing values....
