The Morning Passing on El Cajón Boulevard was created as a part of the anthology THE PARADISE WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

San Diego has been called many things – including a paradise. It’s also a refugee city, a cluster of neighborhoods, a militarized zone, a border town. And Asian American.

This collection of four short documentaries map many such San Diegos— across ethnicity, geography and history. At the same time, they hold on to some notion of paradise, however illusory: a haven from war, the dreams of an immigrant, precious teenage reminiscences, solace in the afterlife, and spaces for creative expression.

​Watch on SBS Australia
Stream on Australian public television

Watch on PBS
​Stream as a part of KPBS' San Diego Immigrant Stories collection (third of 3 films in episode)

Watch on OVID
​Stream as a part of THE PARADISE WE ARE LOOKING FOR, an anthology on Asian American lives in San Diego

Sáng đi qua trên đường El Cajon
(The Morning Passing on El Cajón Boulevard)

The Morning Passing on El Cajón Boulevard follows Julie - a young and ambitious second generation Vietnamese American funeral director working in City Heights, known as the refugee neighborhood of San Diego, California. Julie is used to managing funerals every week, but after an unexpected passing, she seeks guidance from Đồ Thái Uyên, a San Diego legend who has managed funerals (and taxes) for southeast asian families since the 1980s. A brief and intimate glimpse into the ways refugee families mourn the loss of loved ones far from their homelands.

produced, directed, edited by:
​​QUYÊN NGUYEN-LE

co-produced by:
BRIAN HU, BENJAMIN TO
​
director of photography:
KAYLA TONG

additional cinematography:
​​QUYÊN NGUYEN-LE
​ 
sound editor:
LIEN BAO DO

PRESS MENTIONS

Voice of San Diego. "Culture Report: Refugee and Immigrant Stories Take the Big Screen" November 5, 2019
NBC News. "Asian American film festivals launch careers, bridge gulfs and foster careers" November 6, 2019
KPBS. "City Heights Mortuary Featured In San Diego’s Asian Film Festival" November 8, 2019
KPBS. "PacArts Hosts Online Discussion For ‘The Paradise We Are Looking For’" May 22, 2020
​USA Today. "Elevating Asian talent: The 5 best movies we saw at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival" October 26, 2020
Asian Movie Pulse. "Documentary Short Review: The Morning Passing on El Cajon Boulevard." October 27, 2021
BBC News Tiếng Việt."'Chuyện Little Saigon' và 5 phim ngắn của đạo diễn người Mỹ gốc Việt." March 12, 2023

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Inquiries

For Educational Purchases, please contact Pacific Arts Movement:
Brian Hu | ​[email protected]

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Screenings

November 7, 2019 @ 7PM
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
San Diego Asian Film Festival
Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

November 12, 2019 @ 5PM
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
San Diego Asian Film Festival
Ultrastar Cinemas Mission Valley

​May 11-May 31 2020
​ONLINE
​SDAFF ONLINE: MAY MADNESS

October 22-25 2020
ONLINE
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
​
November 5-15, 2020
ONLINE
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
​
November 15-22, 2020
​ONLINE
New Orleans Film Festival 

March 4-14, 2021
ONLINE
Seattle Asian American Film Festival
​
​May 1-31, 2021
ONLINE
Asian Pacific Virtual Showcase
​
October 23-30, 2021
Viet Film Fest
ONLINE

October 2022
PARIS, FRANCE
Ici Vietnam Festival

March 2023
GARDEN GROVE, CALIFORNIA
Little Saigon Stories

Oct 14, 2024​
​SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
​Liminal Spaces, Mingei International Museum

March 29, 2025
WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA
​Westminster Public Library