Learn about Laotian Thavisouk Phrasavath’s escape to America and the life he and his family found here.

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 Phrasavath. After the U.S. government waged a secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War, Thavi’s father and thousands of Laotians who 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 prophesy with personal testimony and stunning imagery, “The Betrayal” is a story of survival and the resilient bonds of family.