Xab Thoj — The Master of Hmong Comedy, Culture, and Heartfelt Harmony

When exploring the vibrant landscape of Hmong media, very few creators manage to achieve elite status across three completely different disciplines. Today, we spotlight the multi-talented Xab Thoj—a well-accomplished Hmong comedian, actor, and singer who has carved out a genuinely unique space in the entertainment industry.

While many know him for making audiences laugh until they cry, his musical evolution tells the story of an artist deeply committed to original storytelling and cultural preservation.

[Hmong New Film] Hmong Blood For Freedom Trailer

I was on the Hmong section at asianfuse the other day and saw someone post up Suab Hmoob Radio's interview with Wisconsin-based Hmong filmmaker/director Pov Hwm Vaj about his new 2012 film project, Hmong Blood For Freedom.  I watched the interview clip, although not thoroughly because there was a lot of talking only and no previewing of the film.  My reaction was that it was great to see this Hmong guy making another film and he's collaborating with folks from the Thai entertainment business as well.  I just hope that the film isn't draggy like Vaj Tuam Thawj (I don't care too much about overloaded fight scenes) nor weak in plot like Hlub Tshaj Txoj Sia. 

From the same interview, we are also informed that the film will focus on a conflict between the ethnic Thai and the original Hmong of Thailand.  My thought was that it was not a very exciting nor appealing topic.  In my limited comprehension of the history of the original Hmong of Thailand, they seemed to have a rather more stable political atmosphere compard to the Hmong Lao and one of their prime issues often conveyed through the media was their growing of opium during the Vietnam War era.  To me, I feel like the subject of a drug war is redundantly portrayed in Thai films/lakorns.     

Then, my sister e-mailed me a link to the trailer (below) and after watching it, I am more enthusiastic about the movie now (although Vaj Tuam Thawj's trailer looked promising too when I first saw it, but after purchasing the film, I couldn't bare to sit down and watch through the 3 hours or so of gruelsome fight scenes).  But so far, Hmong Blood For Freedom seems to be on a higher-quality level (even the English subtitles are more grammatically correct) so let's hope for the best in terms of its ability to carry itself as a poignant film that can convey it's message well. 

Based on the trailer and what I saw/heard of the HBC interview of the lead actress, I pieced a rough synopsis of the film together (below).  [Sorry if it's not accurate]  The film is being shown today, May 2, 2012, at Saint Paul's International Film Festival so maybe whoever is lucky enough to watch it can shine some light on the actual storyline.

(I will do a better review of the film once I see it...which probably won't be until later this year when the DVD format is released.  But everyone, give your support to this film in spite of its outcome so that more quality Hmong films may continue to roll in our direction.)