- “I've always believed that documentaries create a unique space for dialogue. I unearth new insights every time I revisit a film, even on the third watch. Being a part of Di's world, capturing her childhood, her struggles and her growth, has taught me so much more than I ever anticipated.” - Interview in Nhân Dân
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- “I wanted to keep on using the camera as a go-between to understand deeper Hmong society and interact with them.” - Interview in Viet Film Fest
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- “Try not to wait until you have enough money to make the film - we will never have it, and if we wait for it, we just waste our time. Go for it!” - Interview in The Whickers
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- “A haunting exploration of Hmong customs that pull at the threads of tradition and modernity. By immersing herself in the life of the young protagonist, Di, Diem reveals a narrative that is as compelling as it is deeply unsettling.” - Review in The New York Times
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- “With meticulous observation and personal involvement that challenges the traditional neutrality of documentary film-making, the film stands as a provocative testament to the complexity of tradition, gender, and survival in a rapidly changing world.” - Review in The Guardian
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“Above all, I wanted to keep on using the camera as a go-between to understand deeper Hmong society and interact with them. I am also excited to have the opportunity to document from inside this aspect of their culture through DI’s metamorphosis and to show to the Vietnamese and international audience the complexity of this process. To me [our developing relationship] was a huge responsibility, and it was changing the perspective of the film. I decided to accept it and became part of the story that I was filming. In a way, Children of the Mist is also the story of my relationship with my protagonists.”
-Hà Lệ Diễm, Filmmaker
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