大象传媒

Everything Everywhere All at Once ensured it was a historic night at the Oscars. And in doing so it put a spotlight on Asian Americans.

The film, which centres around a fictional family of Asian Americans, received seven awards with Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh becoming the first Asian woman to win the best actress Oscar.

In her acceptance speech she said: "For all the little boys and girls who look like me, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities鈥︹��

Host Catherine Byaruhanga hears stories from Asian Americans, including three actors who discuss attitudes and prejudice towards them in the film industry.

Ke Huy Quan became the first actor from Vietnam to get an Oscar in the best supporting actor category. 鈥淢y journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp,鈥� he said. 鈥淪omehow I ended up on Hollywood鈥檚 biggest stage...This is the American dream!鈥�

We hear from a family who can relate to those words. Originally from Vietnam, they now live in the US. In the mid-1970s, they decided to escape by boat in search of a safer life. They recall being robbed at sea during a perilous journey with their three year old daughter.

鈥淥ne of the pirates took hold of her and said he would take her as his daughter,鈥� said Hung Ti Nguyen. 鈥淚 was on my knees begging him鈥� somehow, at the last minute, he took a look at me and gave me back my daughter.鈥�

(Photo: Danh Nguyen, Hung Ti Nguyen, Thuc Doan Nguyen in the 1980s. Credit: Faith Pearson)