AKA Don Bonus Documentary

For the first time in the U.S Don Bonus allows us into the life of a Cambodian refugee in the United States. The main focus is how Don navigates his way through the American education system in hopes to create a better future for him and his family. Don offers the audience raw emotions directly around the craving for stability, close family relationships, and a happy future.

The film offers a clear view of how America treats the refugee population. Little help is given and social mobility is expected. Don and his family move house to house and during his stay in section eight gets robbed and harassed several times. “Southeast Asian American refugee youth have occupied an especially troubled position as noncitizen subjects who are pressured to assimilate in public school that are ill-equipped to meet their unique challenges both in and out of the room. The challenges of school, neighborhood, and home environments impeded their ability to achieve economic independence from the state (which would help overwrite the history of US imperialism in favor of US human benevolence.” (Kae 139) It's almost like the U.S gives away the ability to come to America while also extending the problems of racial inequality. “In other words, the state can relinquish responsibility for its impoverished and disenfranchised citizens and denizens by reframing the needs of fare recipients as a result of irresponsible life choices rather than histories of radicalized dispossession.” (Kae 137) Don’s brother is an example of the state blaming the family for how their son turned out. Even though Don’s brother was exposed to violence since he entered the United States. 

I think the relationship between Don, his older brother, and his younger brother. Don seems to be in the middle trying to just keep the family together. He stays home and helps out when his house is broken into. His older brother and younger brother were both living out of the house. Don is also in the middle of choosing between a lifestyle like his younger brother or his older brother. 

I would have to agree with everyone else this is the best documentary I've seen. The reason being I was able to sit through it and watch the entirety while feeling as close to the same emotions as Don. For a moment I was in the life of another. Don was open to speaking about his true feeling and that’s where meaning became evoked. I mean I felt like I was sitting in the car crying with him when he was talking about his brother after the party. 

I enjoyed the time I got to look into Don's life. I felt as if he wanted to show it and he wasn’t ashamed that’s what made the film so good. I would love to see what he’s up to now.