Austin Asian American Film Festival 2009

South/Southwestern Premiere! Director S. Leo Chiang in Attendance!

Originally settled by relocated Vietnamese “boat people,” the East New Orleans community of Versailles is at a cultural crossroads as a new generation of Vietnamese Americans are born and raised in a city increasingly besieged by hardship and turmoil. When Hurricane Katrina strikes, elders find themselves refugees once again, and far away from the homes and community they have worked so hard to build. A Village Called Versailles documents the inspiring return of this community after the storm and the larger challenges that face New Orleans. When the city attempts to put a toxic landfill near the Versailles community and its water source, both young and old band together to save their neighborhood.

Director S. Leo Chiang creates an unforgettable, rousing documentary of community and empowerment that shows that while the storm has passed, the real struggles of rebuilding New Orleans are still only just beginning.

Co-sponsored by Saheli for Asian Families