The Consulate General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City has announced that the renowned US film director Janet Grillo will visit Da Nang on 16 and 17 March to introduce her film ‘Jack of the Red Hearts’ to local movie lovers.

A scene from the film

Her visit is part of a series of cultural activities launched by the US Consulate General to promote bilateral cultural exchange with Viet Nam, and to increase mutual understanding between the people of both countries.

‘Jack of the Red Hearts’ will be screened at Le Do Cinema, 46 Tran Phu at 2.00pm on Friday 17 March, and admission is free. 

Released on 26 February 2016, the film centres on the issues of orphans, families, autism, exclusion and inclusion.  18-year-old Jack struggles to take care of her younger sister, Coke, as they are orphans.  When Coke is taken into social care, Jack needs to find a stable income in order to gain legal custody of her sister.  After taking the resume of an actual therapist and assuming her identity, Jack is hired by Kay and Mark to care for their daughter, a young autistic girl named Glory, who is about Coke's age.  While Jack finds her job challenging at first, she eventually improves and creates a positive connection with Glory.  After the deception is discovered, Kay and Mark forgive Jack and help her to reunite with her younger sister.

Janet Grillo is a critically acclaimed filmmaker and an Emmy Award-winning producer.  She is also a former studio executive at New Line Cinema and an assistant arts professor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Kanbar Institute of Film and Television.  She is the mother of an autistic child herself. 

During her stay in Viet Nam, Janet will attend exchange meetings with domestic organisations and agencies involved in the field of autism.  In addition, she will be present at a filmmaking workshop with Vietnamese students from a film faculty, and meet with Vietnamese filmmakers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.