It’s a story of survival and the enduring bond between a mom and her child.
That’s how Stratford Film Festival describes Shining Light, a documentary event May 8 at the City Hall Auditorium.
Directed by Robbie Hart and produced by Peter Raymont and Gary J. Smith, Shining Light follows the story of Mui Nguyen Bui, who was fleeing Vitenam with her family in April 1975 during the Vietnam War while nine months pregnant.
Festival officials said two days after boarding a South Vietnamese freighter carrying more than 3,600 refugees, Bui gave birth to her daughter Chieu Anh on the open deck as the ship’s engine failed and began to sink.
A Danish cargo ship would rescue those on board, with a Royal Airforce helicopter airlifting Bui and Anh to Hong Kong, both of them eventually immigrating to Canada, according to festival officials.
Festival director Megan Smith-Harris said the documentary is a tribute to the strength and courage of mothers across generations and cultures.
Tickets are pay what you wish, with a suggested price of $20.
The screening starts at 7 p.m.
