Center for Asian American Media

Seventeen-year-old Kelly Saeteurn has a dream – she calls it her “American dream…” As a fresh high school graduate on her way to college, she envisions a rosy future for herself; Kelly is the first in her family of Iu Mien refugees from Laos to have accomplished as much as she already has, but her dreams exist in sharp contrast to her reality – she is also pregnant. Her boyfriend Tony is a junior high school drop-out and ex-con. The brutal honesty of this film’s footage and dialogue offers viewers a rare glimpse into the lives of two young people struggling to make their relationship work in the face of overwhelming obstacles like parenthood, gender issues and cultural and educational differences.

A production of the Center for Asian American Media in association with the Independent Television Service, with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Special thanks to the East Bay Asian Youth Center.

“...A very thoughtful examination of teenage pregnancy, the struggles of a young couple with a new baby, and the social and economic realities that come with being parents.”

- Alvin F. Poussaint, MD Harvard Medical School

Awards
Best Feature Nomination, International Documentary Association

Recognition
National Public Television Broadcast, POV

Additional Resources
Educational Media Review »

Other Films in the Collection
A.K.A. Don Bonus
Kelly Loves Tony
Refugee

College/Institution

K-12/Public Library/Community Group