aiff_program09_interior.xp 3/2/09 3:54 PM Page 21
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) Between the Folds
documentar
96 minutes a73 2008 a73 USA/Laos 56 minutes a73 2008 a73 USA a73 In Competition
Friday 12:00p
a73
Saturday 9:30a
a73
Monday 9:30a Thursday 6:30p
a73
Friday 12:30p
a73
Saturday 10:00a
a73
Sunday 3:30p
a73
Monday 3:30p
Plays with: Trece Años (Thirteen Years) (p63)
Plays with: David McCullough: Painting with Words (p24)
Directors/Producers/Screenwriters: Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath a73 Executive
Producer: Cara Mertes a73 Producer: Flora Fernandez-Marengo a73 Cinematographer: Ellen
Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Narrator: Vanessa Gould a73 Cinematographer: Melissa
Kuras a73 Editor: Thavisouk Phrasavath a73 Music/Composer: Howard Shore a73 Narrator:
Donovan a73 Animators: Todd Sines, +SCALE a73 Editor: Kristin Barlow a73 Composer: Gil Talmi ies
Boualay Vannalith a73 Principal Cast: The Phrasavath Family a73
thebetrayalmovie.com a73
Principal Cast: Dr. Erik D. Demaine, Martin L. Demaine, Miri Golan, Dr. Tom Hull, Paul
Jackson, Eric Joisel, Dr. Robert J. Lang, Chris Palmer a73
greenfusefilms.com
Thavisouk Phrasavath’s story of his family’s epic journey from
war-torn Laos to the streets of New York is filmed over the A cast of fine artists and eccentric scientists have devoted their
course of 23 years. The film movingly chronicles the family’s lives to the unlikely medium of modern origami. Through their
struggle to reckon with that which was left behind while forging determination and passion to reinterpret the world in paper,
a new life in a foreign land, and the quest to regain a sense of these very likeable characters bring forth amazing art—a
peace and harmony in a world marked by borders and chaos. fascinating mix of sensibilities towards realism, creativity and
meaning. Fusing geometry, mathematics, engineering, algebra,
This lyrical film fluidly incorporates archival footage, cinema
number theory, medicine, science, sculpture, form and
verité, interview material and visually poetic montages. The
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function, these artists create amazing art in schools, their
result is a story of what it means to be banished, the far-
homes and their jobs.
reaching consequences of war, and the resilient bonds of family.
Thavisouk’s unforgettable journey reminds us of the strength The film paints an arresting portrait of the creativity that fuels
necessary to survive unthinkable conditions, and of the human these remarkable minds and ultimately culminates with the
spirit’s inspiring capacity to adapt, rebuild, and forgive. idea that art and science are but two different interpretations of
Nominated for a 2009 Acadamy Award for Best Feature-length the very same world around us. The medium of folding a blank,
Documentary. [language, subtitles] uncut square of paper emerges as a metaphor for creative
Directors’ Statements
potential and transformation.
Ellen Kuras
Vanessa Gould
Director’s Statement
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) is the inspiration
for my journey as a cinematographer, poet For as long as I can remember, the concepts
and filmmaker. It was the voice of one Lao of art, science and math have seemed
man whose story captured my interest and deeply connected—three ways of
whose poetic sensibilities and ability to interpreting our experiences in a language
recount stories kept me rapt with attention. The film is the that’s universal. When I first learned about
culmination of these stories, and this time spent together. I the strange phenomenon of artists, scientists and
always wanted the film to be in a Lao voice and be told from mathematicians from all over the world working in the very
their perspective, to hear the story from their point of view. same medium of paper, I knew there had to be something
special about it—that in the simplicity of a square there must be
Thavisouk Phrasavath (shown above) hiding some untold potential for creativity and new ideas.
On May 25, 1982, I came to the U.S. from Laos as a political This has also been a project about transformation—not only of
refugee. My objective was to survive and stay alive in Brooklyn, paper, but of lives. Most of those featured in the film left
N.Y. Becoming an artist never even entered my dreams. My traditional lives to devote themselves to the thing they love
journey has taken a 180 degree turn. When Ellen asked me to be a most—paperfolding. Their remarkable stories resonated so
subject of the film and collaborator, I was deeply honored. It’s been strongly with me, that I was determined to bring their inspiring
23 years of spiritual and mental therapy, a searching of my soul. stories to light.
Filmography: Directorial Debuts Filmography: Directorial Debut
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