Synopsis
Filmed over 23 years, The Betrayal is the Academy Award®-
nominated directorial debut of renowned cinematographer Ellen
Kuras in a unique collaboration with the film's subject and co-
director, Thavisouk ("Thavi") Phrasavath. After the U.S.
government waged a secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War,
Thavi's father and thousands of other Laotians who had fought
alongside American forces were abandoned and left to face
imprisonment or execution. Hoping to find safety, Thavi's family
made a harrowing escape to America, where they discovered a
different kind of war. Weaving ancient prophecy with personal
testimony and stunning imagery, The Betrayal is a story of survival
and the resilient bonds of family. A Diverse Voices Project co-
production with support from the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting (CPB); funded in part by the Center for Asian
American Media (CAAM). An Official Selection of the 2008
Sundance Film Festival.