Year of the Cat (2025) follows filmmaker Tony Nguyen on an extraordinary quest to solve the mystery of his father, lost in the chaos of the Fall of Saigon 50 years ago. Crafted as an investigative home movie, this intensely raw documentary weaves together moments of humor and heartache, offering an intimate look at how the children of refugees are shaped by war and loss. As Tony delves into his family’s history, the film reveals the emotional lengths we go to in confronting the past—and the possibility of healing as we reclaim and transform our futures.
This event is being sponsored by the Asian American Studies Program (AAST), College Arts &Humanities Institute (CAHI), Asian Culture Center (ACC), and Hoosier Asian America Power (HAAP).
Tony Nguyen is an Oakland-based filmmaker whose work explores the Vietnamese refugee experience (Enforcing the Silence, Giap’s Last Day at the Ironing Board Factory) and the overlooked stories of individuals and communities that make up the fabric of the Town (Fresh Frozen, I See Me).
The College of Arts