The
hypnotic, watery landscapes of the San Francisco Bay Area’s
salt ponds set the magical tone of the film. This festival
favorite, critically acclaimed drama tells the story of
rebirth–as a father and daughter rediscover each other.
Like few other American movies, the film uniquely approaches
multi-racial conflicts in a working class environment with
honesty and realism. Shed, a black Vietnam vet fighting
demons of the past, is visited by the daughter he left behind
in Vietnam 17 years before when the American troops retreated.
Ming is an outcast in her own homeland and has come to America
to find her father and her own idendity. Shed, forced to
deal with his demons because of his daughters presence and
slowly finds a way to reconcile his past and present. Ming
discovers her roots and finally accepts her dual identity.
Together they find each other and a place to belong.
