Can
Can follows a Vietnamese American man who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The film documents how Can Truong was an overachiever in high school. With the intention of going to medical school, he wanted to make
his dad proud and become a doctor. However, his mental illness forced him out of the University of Chicago in his junior year.
The film shows that Can’s story is common for many Vietnamese Americans but that addressing mental illness in the Vietnamese American community is difficult because it remains a taboo subject. Originally, Korean American director Pearl Park hoped to document the lives of three Asian American subjects with mental illness and their families. However, finding people who would agree to disclose their mental disabilities to a mass audience proved difficult. So Park decided to focus on Can Truong, who was known for his advocacy work in the field of healthcare. As a “consumer,” one who lives with mental illness and advocates for better healthcare, Can has spoken at numerous national mental health conferences and talked openly about obtaining his college degree, despite his
mental disabilities.
As Park explains, "[Can has] defied many cultural norms by speaking publicly about living with bipolar disorder and by teaching consumers how to get accommodations in college through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.”
Can is a breakthrough documentary, as it allows us to witness the pain, struggles and challenges of a person who lives with mental illness. The film is also inspiring in opening up a crucial conversation about mental illness in our communities. As the filmmaker has stated, "By
dispelling the taboo power of mental illness, we hope to dissipate the denial and shame
surrounding the subject. We want to improve the quality of public discourse about the subject of mental illness, and step up the ensuing search for answers."
MY BROTHER
Michael wrestles with his ambivalent and estranged relationship to a mentally ill half-brother, Khanh. Through a playful bricolage of documentary and narrative forms, the story unfolds as a lyrical stream of experience and memory. On the brink of a personal crisis, Michael visits his surrogate father, and their conversations tease out mysteries of Michael’s past and push him toward a haunting reunion with Khanh on the streets of Portland.