Education
Diverse Francophone Voices
Diverse Francophone Voices explores identity, finding belonging, and the refugee experience through the powerful immigrant story Ru. It includes access to the film, a 67-minute conversation with Kim Thúy, author of the book on which Ru is based, and a lesson plan and support resources.
The accompanying lesson plan explores identity, belonging, migration and the Vietnam War.
This national conversation, recorded on November 28, 2024, remains relevant, powerful, and interactive for students watching today.
Learn more about the film and special guest below.
This Resource Is:
- Free of charge
- Interactive with student polls, discussion boards and more
- Suitable for Grades 9-12
- Presented in French, with an English-subtitled version available
- Designed for native French speakers and FSL students who can participate in an abstract conversation in French
About the Film
Ru
A family of Vietnamese refugees settles in Montreal in 1975 in the hopes of starting a new life, charting successes and setbacks as they adapt to their new country. The film weaves together their experiences in Canada with a series of flashbacks to their comfortable life in Vietnam, the political upheaval that forced them to flee, and their perilous journey across the Pacific.
Adapted from Kim Thúy’s Governor General Award-winning novel of the same name, this compassionate and inspiring story of resilience paints a stunning picture of diverse francophone voices in Canada.
“An exceptional and beautiful film.”
– Isobel Grieve, Montréal Guardian
ABOUT Our GUEST
Please note: Guest biographies reflect their roles and achievements at the time of recording.
Kim Thúy
Author of Ru
At age 10, Kim Thúy left Vietnam along with a wave of refugees commonly referred to as “the boat people”. She settled with her family in Quebec, and went on to graduate in translation and law. Her award-winning books have been translated into 31 languages and distributed across 43 countries. Her debut novel, Ru, earned her the Governor General’s Literary Award in 2010.
Learn more about this programme
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