A Kay Meek Film Series Presentation
Grosvenor Theatre

Canada | 2023 | 116m | French, Vietnamese | Director: Charles-Olivier Michaud

Official Selection, 2023 Toronto International Film Festival

Based on the Governor General’s Award–winning novel by Kim Thúy, Ru is the story of the arduous journey of a wealthy family fleeing from Vietnam in 1975 after the fall of Saigon, then spending time at a refugee camp in Malaysia, before landing in Quebec..

This film adaptation, directed by Charles-Olivier Michaud, tracks the events through the eyes of the daughter of the family, Nguyen An Tinh. She’s trying to make sense of her new French-speaking life while also fully aware of the horrors that she and her family have escaped.

A stunningly beautiful film, Ru doesn’t shy away from devastating flashbacks of fleeing and hiding in buildings, friends and family left behind, and a dark and scary passage by boat. These flashbacks are juxtaposed with images of the family in snowy Quebec, trying to find their footing in a very different world than the one they were used to, making friends, and working restaurant jobs amidst culture clashes.

Ru is a somber examination of forced migration, isolation, and newfound belonging, told through rich visuals and an orchestral score.

For info on how to book accessible seating, please visit https://kaymeek.com/access.

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