Austin Asian American Film Festival 2009

Austin Premiere!

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), which is modeled 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 (i.e., the worst thing a Vietnamese father could ever hear from a son).

Newcomer Chi Pham steals the show as the patriarch of the Do family, a man who views hard work, Catholicism, higher education, and loyalty to family as the only way to happiness and success in life. But, Mr. Do's world is about to unravel as he is confronted by the inner passions and dreams of his four children, forcing him to realize that he must learn to accept his children as they truly are or risk losing them.

An intense family drama that is also hilarious and touching, Tran’s first film is a fine portrait of a Vietnamese American family just trying to keep up with the times. – Mye Hoang