There are certain films you carry with you, long after the credits roll, Finding Phong is one of them. In the heat-soaked swirl of Hanoi, during a research trip on Vietnamese cinema, I was introduced to Nicole Pham, a meeting that changed everything. Nicole is one of those women you meet and instantly admire: generous, wise, and deeply grounded in her work as a producer. We sat together in a Cong Cafe, sipping iced coffee, the fans barely touching the humidity, and talked about cinema, career paths, and life. Somewhere in that conversation, Nicole mentioned Finding Phong, and before I’d even finished my drink, she had sent me the link.
That evening, back at my Airbnb, I watched it. Then I watched it again. I was completely overcome.
Finding Phong is not just a documentary, it’s an intimate unfolding of identity, courage, and love. Shot over a year, the film follows Phong, a young trans woman from central Vietnam, as she navigates her gender transition while studying in Hanoi. Using a mix of handheld video diaries and observational documentary, directors Swann Dubus and Trần Phương Thảo create a portrait that’s at once raw and poetic. We watch as Phong begins hormone therapy, dreams of surgery in Thailand, and confronts the complex love of her traditional family. What stayed with me most was Phong herself, her humour, her vulnerability, her grace.
The documentary doesn’t sensationalise, it humanises. It is full of small, tender moments: a dinner with friends, a quiet phone call with her mother, the hesitance before a word is spoken. These moments, unfiltered and honest, felt like revelations.
Back in London, I was so moved by the film that I reached out again to Nicole, who connected me with Gerald Herman, one of the writers and executive producers of the film (and also the man behind the restoration of When the Tenth Month Comes). We met, we talked, and I felt even more certain: this film had to be screened in the UK.
When the Star Nhà Ease season was conceived, Finding Phong had already taken up space in my heart. It was the perfect closing film. And it was more than I could have dreamed: Nicole and Gerald came for the post-screening Q&A, and so did Phong. Meeting her in person was surreal. We connected instantly. What began as admiration grew into friendship.
By Christmas 2024, I was back in Hanoi, for more research and to have dinner and long conversations with Phong. We spoke about life, love, visibility, and what had changed for her since the documentary was released. We laughed, we had facials (as one should), and I left feeling like I had gained not just a friend but a sister.
There is a whole other story behind how Finding Phong came to be, but I think that’s one best told over coffee or wine. What I can say here is this: some films don’t just stay on screen. They change how you see, how you feel, and who you become connected to.
Finding Phong is one of those films.