The Betrayal is a documentary film, written and directed by Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath. The movie premiered in limited U.S. theaters on November 21, 2008, was featured in the 2008 Sundance Film Festival documentary competition and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature, but the Oscar was awarded to Man on Wire.
Synopsis
Following the Vietnam war, a Laotian family discovers the impact of U.S. foreign policy on their lives. Phrasavath discovers his Laotian father worked with the CIA, and is arrested at the age of 12 due to his father's U.S. affiliations. Phrasavath escapes to a refugee camp in Thailand and is reunited with his family two years later. The family flees to the U.S. in search of safety, only to encounter a different battle in New York City.
Awards
- Spectrum Award at the Full Frame Film Festival 2008
- Best Documentary at the Ann Arbor Film Festival 2008
- Cinereach Award at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival 2008
- Audience Award at the Fresno Film Festival 2008
Critics' Reviews
Shortly before its limited release, The Betrayal received an overall critics' rating of 78 from Metacritic and 100% from Rotten Tomatoes.Metacritic.com: The Betrayal Reviews Rotten Tomatoes: The Betrayal Reviews
Sundance Film Festival | Sundance Lineup | CIA | Laos | Vietnam War | How to Become a Spy
References
Fast Facts
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Directors
Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
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Screenwriters
Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
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Release date
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Run time
87 minutes
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Fact:
Filming took place over a 23-year time span
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AKA
The Betrayal Nerakhoon and Nerakhoon (The Betrayal)
