Cambodian American director Bunthoeun Real’s short film Donut Boy is about a first generation Cambodian American man navigating life in Tacoma, WA. Bo (Taylor Yath) hopes to reach the next tier of amateur boxing but family obligations and his shady cousin may force him to choose between his dreams and duty.
The following is my interview, conducted by email, with Bunthoeun Real. It was edited for length and clarity.
Merlyn M. Bilas: What drove you to make this film?
Bunthoeun Real: I wanted to tell a story about what it was like for many Cambodians living in Tacoma, WA. When our family was seeking refuge here in America, we were offered government housing and welfare to start over. The infrastructure here was different from what our parents grew up in so naturally there were miscommunications and hardship in trying to grow as a family. I wanted to make “Donut Boy” to reflect those struggles and accomplishments.
I also wanted to make an action movie about boxing because one of my favorite things to do was watch movies with my grandpa. He loves movies about boxing, and watching the sport in general.
MMB: How would you define the relationship between the cousins? It seems complicated, yet there is a sense that they feel obligated to help each other. Is Bo a little scared of Rithy (Alvin Heng), as well as scared for him?
BR: Hats off to the guys that played Bo and Rithy, Tyler Yath and Alvin Heng. They are so great to work with and so complex in their craft. I tailored their relationship after the many relationships we have in our community. There’s a strong sense of loyalty, especially with family and because of that, no matter what our family does, we have this strong urge to try to help each other or to keep them safe. I wouldn’t say Bo fears Rithy. Bo is scared for him because he knows the system is set up for them to fail, to lose, to go to jail, to get deported, and to be away from family.
MMB: Can you talk about the role of Bo’s mother in his life? She comes across as supportive and controlling — or maybe a little of both. Does she see Bo for who he really is?
BR: Ming Vannara Taing played mom in this film. She did an amazing job for a first-time actor. Mom is supportive. She wants her son to have the best life he could have. She just doesn’t think boxing is viable. In her mind, hanging out with Rithy leads to bad things. In the beginning she doesn’t see Bo for who he really is.
MMB: What, if anything, would like the audience to take away from the film?
BR: I want people to watch this film and find a way to mend relationships and communicate to their family. I think there could be misunderstanding, especially with first and second generation immigrants…that [could] be worked out. This film acts as a lens to see what that might look like, especially with Cambodian American families in Tacoma, Washington.
I also hope to inspire more diverse voices, especially in my community, to go out and make films and learn the craft. A lot of our artists and creators were killed during the war, so I want a new legacy of filmmakers and singers and actors to pursue their dream. Hopefully this film will inspire that too.
‘Donut Boy’ will play at the 27th Annual Local Sightings Film Festival, presented by the Northwest Film Forum, which showcases of creative communities from throughout the Pacific Northwest. The 2024 program runs from September 20 to 29.
