After a dangerous sea crossing and a stay in a camp in Malaysia, the young Vietnamese Tinh and her family are accepted as refugees in Canada and arrive in Montreal where they begin their new life. But for Tinh, adapting has its share of difficulties.
Acting
Chloé Djandji's silent rebellion speaks volumes.
Cinematography
White Montreal vs. warm memory-flashbacks—stunning contrast.
Writing
Adapts Kim Thúy's poetic novel without losing its breath.

Director
Charles-Olivier Michaud
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title 'Ru' means 'lullaby' in Vietnamese but also evokes the French 'ru' (stream)—a perfect bilingual metaphor for the film's flow between worlds.
Author Kim Thúy drew from her own 1979 boat journey; director Michaud spent years securing funding partly because distributors feared 'another refugee story' wouldn't sell.