A trailer has dropped for “The Donut King,” Alice Gu’s portrait of Ted Ngoy, AKA the Donut King, a Cambodian refugee who arrived in America in 1975 with nothing and built a donut empire. “Ted opened up 70 donut shops and he gave Cambodian refugees a chance to really make it in America,” we’re told. Ngoy reveals he sponsored over 100 families.
At one time, Ngoy’s wealth was an estimated $20 million. President Bush, Sr. flew from the White House to give him a Presidential Award for “achieving the American dream.” Then he lost everything. “He wasn’t the perfect man,” a character concedes. “He lost all his donut shops because of gambling.” Another character reveals Ngoy “would do anything for money.”
“I hope that the film can help challenge any preconceived notions of what a refugee is, or looks like, and that the film helps put a human face on refugees and their potential, if given the chance,” Gu told us.
“The Donut King” opens in select theaters and virtual cinemas October 30.
