The Donut King

As this well-paced and engaging makes clear, there are a great variety of donuts. That said the quintessential donut is an item defined by its absence, and that emptiness is precisely located at the center of it. You can glaze it, cover it with sprinkles but still the hole remains. Perhaps a touch too philosophical for this film?, Then again consider the Donut King, and how heavy his doughy crown weighs upon him after watching this. As I get older it sure is hard to separate the sweet and the sour. This film packs in a lot of heartache within an overall optimistic outlook, no small feat considering the impetus for the Cambodian donut diaspora. 4 million out of 7 million. The scenes (animated but nonetheless harrowing) of the separation of families paired with the graceful grit of Chuong Pek Lee were part of this assorted box of tales, including several forays into freakonomic flavors (the corporate interviews were so wonderfully out of place with the Mom and Pop shop shots). Pink box supply chain moves, instagram flash mobs, Midas touches, one-armed bandits, child labor, a blood-oath bond broken and more. Savor the flavor, but respect the holes in history and your own soul as well.

Wow who knew donuts meant so much to Cambodians who came to America fleeing their country home! Touching documentary. Really makes you see the world for its hardships and the resilience of people! I enjoyed this documentary not just for the donuts but the story of giving, freedom and opportunity!

I have to say how sad it makes me that kids are no longer learning who Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge were and the human atrocities committed- how have we lost these stories in world history? I remember sponsoring a Cambodian family and learning so much from them; I realized at 10 years old, I was lazy and spoiled. The family that lived with us taught me and my family so much, and I'm forever grateful for the experience they gave to us. These stories need to be back in the public consciousness. What the Cambodian refugees taught us was, WE had to do our part to ensure their success- the government didn't do it, they simply got them here, gave them temporary shelter, and they had to find their way with the help of Americans who reached out. What a wonderful lesson these immigrants gained from us, while we learned from them at the same time. California's governor, 'Moon Beam' Brown, didn't even WANT them there, but the people stepped up and took over. Thanks to President Ford, they came anyway, and the rest is history. When we finally absorb the lessons of our past, perhaps we will implement them again. A hand up, not a hand out; come here LEGALLY, work hard, follow the laws, and the American dream is yours to realize. We have people here that were born and raised here that cannot seem to absorb these lessons, but immigrants fleeing a murderous regime were/are so grateful and continue to be a shining light on the torch of lady liberty. A beautiful film that does a good job of explaining what these people fled and how they succeeded so well.

An amazing story about a man who started from nothing, gained it all, and then lost it all, and ended up right back where he started. It's a story about greed and addiction and the tragic consequences it can have on a family. The movie has an excellent moral teaching about the importance of contentment and not falling for temptation. The documentary is amazing as well. To get the original people reliving their experiences and reuniting was powerful to watch.

Who doesn't love donuts? I had great things about this and most docs are hit and miss. If you like donuts and immigrant stories, this is a must watch. Do yourself a favor and grab some donuts for when you watch this.

This is one of those "stranger than fiction" documentaries that has twists and turns and people you care about and want to care about. It's how America was built. And how people fall. It is educational in a way that you want to hear about it - and probably won't forget - which is good, in this case. This is well worth your time! It's a feel good documentary even when it's not exactly "happy".

Ted Ngoy is the Donut King. This documentary tells his story and the story of Cambodian refugees opening independent donut shops throughout southern California. This is standard biopic of a successful refugee for the first thirty minutes. He comes from nothing and becomes a big success. It's a good solid immigrant story and a fun insight into 80's Cali. I did not see the turn coming. It's a very human story and that is the movie's greatest strength. The man has both good and bad. It's a struggle that is in all of us.