Child of Dust
| Child of Dusk | |
|---|---|
| Polish | Dziecko z Pyłu |
| Directed by | Weronika Mliczewska |
| Screenplay by | Weronika Mliczewska |
| Produced by |
|
| Cinematography | Mikael Lypinski |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Joaquin Garcia |
Production company | Ya Man Studio |
Release date |
|
Running time | 1 hr. 33 min. |
| Countries | Poland, Vietnam, Sweden, Czech Republic, Qatar |
| Languages | English, Vietnamese |
Child of Dust (Polish: Dziecko z Pyłu) is a documentary film written and directed by Weronika Mliczewska. The film follows Sang Thanh Ngô, an Amerasian man born during the Vietnam War, as he searches for his American father. It is a Poland-Vietnam-Sweden-Czech Republic-Qatar co-production, produced by Mliczewska, Chi-Minh De Leo and Bao Nguyen.
The film was acquired by Berlin-based Rise and Shine World Sales ahead of its Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Premiere,[1] where it received a Special Mention from the documentary competition jury.[2] It won Polish Competition, Best Director and Best Editing at the 65th Krakow Film Festival in May 2025.[3]
Summary
[edit]Everything changes for 55-year old Sang, an unwanted, discriminated child from the Vietnam war, when he miraculously finds his American father. But before they can meet, Sang must confront his own weaknesses and fatherly shortcomings.
Development
[edit]Mliczewska conceived the idea for the documentary when she was making a short documentary on Esports in Vietnam. There, she learned about DNA testing initiatives helping Amerasian children find their American fathers. She and Vietnamese producer Chi-Minh De Leo spent eight years making Child of Dust. Bao Nguyen later joined the project as a Producer to help bring the film to Vietnamese-American audiences and facilitate its North American outreach.[4]
Production
[edit]Child of Dust was supported by several institutions, including the Polish Film Institute, Telewizja Polska, Al Jazeera Documentary, the Czech Audiovisual Fund, the Swedish Film Institute, the Ministry of Culture within the National Recovery Plan, Creative Vouchers Initiative and the European Union’s Next Generation E.U. initiative.
Production was supervised by Mliczewska for Ya Man Studio (Poland), with co-productions by de Leo for Clubhouse Films (Vietnam), Antonio Russo Merenda for Ginestra Film (Sweden), Michal Sikora for Lonely Production (Czech Republic), and Andrzej Łucjanek for FixaFilm. Additional co-producer credit include to Magda Cichecka, while associate producers are Jim Stark, Brian Hjort, Paweł Ziemilski, and Mateusz Wajda.[5][6]
My background in anthropology allowed me to approach Child of Dust with deep cultural sensitivity, ensuring Sang’s story was told with authenticity and respect. It helped me observe without imposing, allowing moments to unfold naturally rather than shaping them to fit a preconceived narrative.
Mliczewska, who was pregnant during the shoot, took on directing, producing, writing, and filming roles.[8]
Regarding her relationship with the protagonist, Mliczewska stated, "Sang trusted me because, for the first time, someone truly listened. He knew this film could give voice to a forgotten history. I was fortunate to have a strong Vietnamese team who helped build trust and preserve cultural authenticity."[9]
Child of Dust was shot by Mikael Lypinski and edited by Marcin Sucharski and Mateusz Romaszkan, while Joaquin Garcia composed the score.
Release
[edit]Child of Dust had its world premiere in the International Competition section at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival on 12 March 2025. Its German premiere followed on 11 May 2025 at DOK.fest München.[10] On 29 May, 2025, the film had its Polish premiere at the Krakow Film Festival,[11][12] where it won three major awards: Best National Documentary, Best Director, and Best Editing.[3]
Reception
[edit]Child of Dust received a Special Mention at Thessaloniki International Film Festival, where the jury called it 'a beautifully shot cinéma vérité portrait' exploring the generational trauma of war and the universal desire for paternal love.[13]
Critical Reviews
[edit]Amber Wilkinson of Screen Daily praised the film, writing, "Sombre but tenderly shot and heartfelt, Mliczewska’s quiet and intimate observational film brims with feeling." She added, "Despite the difficulties faced by Sang and his families in both countries, Mliczewska’s empathetic approach also celebrates the strength that community can offer in these situations, and the small gestures that can have big significance."[14]
Awards
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krakow Film Festival | 1 June 2025 | International Documentary | Weronika Mliczewska | Nominated | [3] |
| Polish Documentary | Weronika Mliczewska | Won | |||
| Best Director | Weronika Mliczewska | Won | |||
| Best Editing | Marcin Sucharski and Mateusz Romaszkan | Won | |||
| Thessaloniki Documentary Festival | 16 March 2025 | International Competition | Weronika Mliczewska | Nominated | [15] |
| Special Mention | Weronika Mliczewska | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (5 March 2025). "Vietnam War Doc 'Child of Dust,' Produced by 'The Stringer's' Bao Nguyen, Acquired by Rise and Shine Ahead of Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ "POLISH DOCS: CHILD OF DUST RECEIVES SPECIAL MENTION, "LIFT LADY" WINS AUDIENCE AWARD IN THESSALONIKI - international promotion of Polish documentary films". Polish Docs. 17 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Laureaci i laureatki 65. Krakowskiego Festiwalu Filmowego". Krakowski Festiwal Filmowy (in Polish). 31 May 2025.
- ^ Macnab, Geoffrey (8 March 2025). "Thessaloniki Int'l Doc Fest: Child Of Dust by Weronika Mliczewska". Business Doc Europe.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for Thessaloniki Documentary competition entry Child of Dust". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 6 March 2025.
- ^ "Child of Dust". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema.
- ^ Kouzi, Dimitra (3 May 2025). "Child of Dust – 50 Years Since the End of the Vietnam War". Dimitra Kouzi - Kouzi Productions.
- ^ "Eye For Film: 'It's one of those films where you can't be impartial'". www.eyeforfilm.co.uk.
- ^ Kouzi, Dimitra (3 May 2025). "Child of Dust – 50 Years Since the End of the Vietnam War". Dimitra Kouzi - Kouzi Productions.
- ^ "CHILD OF DUST".
- ^ "Child of Dust - Film of 65th KFF". Krakow Film Festival.
- ^ "Krakow Film Festival unveils 2025 international documentary competition lineup". MODERN TIMES REVIEW. 18 April 2025.
- ^ Carey, Matthew (16 March 2025). "'Coexistence, My Ass!' Wins Top Award At Thessaloniki Int'l Documentary Festival; 'Free Leonard Peltier' Earns Three Awards – Winners List". Deadline.
- ^ Wilkinson, Amber. "'Child Of Dust' review: Doc follows Amerasian as he reunites with GI father". Screen.
- ^ "Coexistence, My Ass! wins big at the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 17 March 2025.