He is nicknamed the "Donut King." Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. But that would be taking for granted the extraordinariness of Ngoy's life story, as well as the thoughtfulness with which Gu crafts this accessible yet honest overview. The sponsor of more than 100 refugee families, Ngoy is almost single-handedly responsible for his compatriots' domination of the mom-and-pop donut shops in Southern California, of which 80 percent were owned by Cambodians by the mid-1990s. One night, Ngoy devised a plan to sneak into the heavily guarded mansion that housed Suganthini, allowing the couple to meet for the first time. By 1977 he was able to purchase his first doughnut shop, Christy's Donuts, in La Habra. Through the maneuvering of his brother-in-law, chief of police and briefly future president of Cambodia, Sak Sutsakhan, Ngoy was promoted to the rank of major and appointed military attache at Cambodia's embassy in Thailand. This caused tension in the Ngoy household, being the center of many arguments between Ngoy and his wife. Ted Ngoy, Self: The Donut King. You get the sense that a man with Ngoy's restless enterprise and financial savvy would have been a runaway success at any place and time. In 1985, Ngoy and his wife became American citizens assuming the American names of Ted and Christy, respectively, and were enjoying a lavish lifestyle including a million dollar home at Lake Mission Viejo, a vacation home in Big Bear, expensive cars, and vacations to Europe. Once a paragon in the community, refugees now avoided him for fear of being asked for a loan. [1], When his wife returned to California for the birthday of a grandchild in 1999, Ngoy began an affair with a young woman, serving as the final straw between him and his wife, Christy. The couple were wed shortly after and had three children. Ngoy also involved himself in American politics, joining the Republican Party and hosting fundraisers for George H.W. [7][3], Ngoy's fortunes improved dramatically, such that by the mid-1980s Ngoy had amassed millions of dollars through his expanding doughnut shop empire, reported as 50 locations throughout California. Within a decade, he had become a multimillionaire with a lakeside mansion, fancy European cars and a doughnut empire in Southern California that even Dunkin’ couldn’t rival there. Leaders and visionaries like Ted Ngoy benefit the lives of more people than they can even imagine. It's an improbable achievement, and each biographical detail that we get from Gu's film underscores just how unlikely Ngoy's entire life has been, from his innovation of carnation pink as. Ngoy declares that his relationship with donuts was love at first sight because they reminded him of nom kong, a Cambodian dessert. As soon as I finished the film, I wanted a dozen documentaries about inspirational but profoundly flawed immigrant leaders just like it. Combined with the archival footage of Democratic and Republican presidents alike embracing immigrants and refugees, Leaders and visionaries like Ted Ngoy benefit the lives of more people than they can even imagine. [2], In 1967, Ngoy was sent by his mother to study in the capital, Phnom Penh, where he fell in love with Suganthini Khoeun, the daughter of a high-ranking government official. © 2021 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Ngoy attempted Gambler's Anonymous, but denies its help with his situation stating that when he went to meetings "I cry, everybody cry. PeopleFinders is the best people search for finding people and public records. He saw an opportunity to expand his business and help the large number of poor, unassimilated Cambodians who had fled the Khmer Rouge to the United States. COVID-19 has forced film distributors to get creative. The least the rest of us can do is make America welcoming again. The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. He and his family fled the fighting in that country in 1975 and ended up in Tustin, Calif., an hour’s drive south of Los Angeles. Age Restrictions: None. The totally surprising and extraordinary roller coast life of Ted Ngoy is the stuff of a good movie drama ….. except that this is a documentary of his almost unbelievable real life.. A word of warning here, before you start to stream Alice Gu‘s wee film, go grab yourself a box of donuts, as her film has you gasping to eat more than a few.. Editor: Carol Martori After cry, go back gambling." "[1] In 1977, the Ngoys took a trip to Las Vegas where Ted saw Elvis Presley. At 74, he is full of energy and smiling broadly. He did not fare well in either the 1993 or 1998 parliamentary elections, but his friend, Prime Minister Hun Sen, made him an advisor on commerce and agriculture. Ted Ngoy is not a name you will recognize, but his influence in California is immeasurable. All rights reserved. (Every country has its donut.) FACEBOOK [5] Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. It was here that Ngoy had his first taste of gambling while placing bets at the Blackjack tables. As the movie opens, we are in today's southern California, as we are intro to various donut shops and its owners, talking about (in)famous Uncle Ted, who started it all back in the 1970s. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. Ngoy's gambling had progressed from the card tables to placing bets on sports games with Cambodian bookies. Gu's efforts to deliver a peppy, music-driven documentary does make it occasionally difficult to understand Ngoy's story within a larger context. Ngoy would often visit Las Vegas for a period of a week, unbeknownst to his wife. Despite never really being a huge success under the previous owners, Christy's became popular under the ownership of the Ngoys. Suganthini's parents and cousins hid behind curtains in the home to ensure Ngoy would break off the relationship. By 2005, after a failed political career in Cambodia, Ngoy was penniless and living on the porch of a fellow Parkcrest Christian Church parishioner's mobile home. The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. While working a second job at a gas station, Ngoy took notice of a busy local doughnut shop and inquired of its operators about learning the business. It's an improbable achievement, and each biographical detail that we get from Gu's film underscores just how unlikely Ngoy's entire life has been, from his innovation of carnation pink as the donut-box color to his marriage to the daughter of a wealthy and influential family as the son of an impoverished single mother (herself a Chinese migrant to Cambodia). Ngoy had become an example to other Cambodian immigrants, who began to follow his business model for their own entrepreneurial endeavors. The Khoeuns immediately sent for an ambulance for Ngoy and had Suganthini locked in her room for days following the event. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. Pertinent statistics are drowned out by an electronica score and the rattling of skateboard wheels in an early montage, and the film's summary of the history of Cambodia as a battleground in the Vietnam War and the takeover of the Khmer Rouge thereafter might only make sense to those who come to the doc already knowledgeable about that period. Ngoy's political career ended in 2002 after breaking with two powerful allies, the commerce minister and the head of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce. The life story of Ted Ngoy makes for a perfect Bollywood/Hollywood flick. The nonfiction jury at this year's (canceled) SXSW Film Festival must have felt the same, as it gave first-time director Alice Gu's. It’s the rags to riches story of a refugee escaping Cambodia, arriving in America in 1975 and building an unlikely multi-million-dollar empire baking America’s favorite pastry, the donut. The Donut King is a tale of the American Dream, but decidedly not one of a model minority. Director: Alice Gu But it was late 20th-century America that placed him in a unique position to help so many people — and then to ruin himself in spectacular fashion. Inkoo Kang It’s the story of Ted Ngoy, a 1970s Cambodian refugee who built a Southern California cruller empire and dedicated himself to enriching the lives of so many of his fellow countryfolk sent to America with nothing. In 1975, Ted Ngoy fled the war in Cambodia with his wife and three kids and arrived in America as a penniless refugee. Despite her sheltered life and being forbidden from having friends or leaving the house other than for school, Suganthini fell in love. This documentary tells Ted Ngoy's story that is one of fate, love, survival, hard knocks, and redemption. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. Outside, he introduces me to his new girlfriend, Sreypov, a beautiful 19-year-old woman with voluminous dark hair. She divorced him soon after and has not since returned to Cambodia. AdChoices His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. Ted and the other interviewees explain how the donut king expanded his empire by providing opportunities to fellow Cambodian families as they established new lives in America. The titular donut king is 77-year-old Ted Ngoy, who has attained mythic status among many Cambodian Americans in Los Angeles and Orange County since his arrival in … He became tired running doughnut shops on his own and decided to train and lease shops to his relatives and employ Cambodian refugees. is a documentary about the life and times of Ted Ngoy. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. Bush and encouraged fellow Cambodian immigrants to support the GOP. The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. [8], Military Career and Immigration to the United States, "Rise and fall of Cambodian refugee 'Donut King' charted in award-winning film", http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jan/19/local/me-donutking19, "The story of the man they called the doughnut king", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ted_Ngoy&oldid=991486239, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 November 2020, at 09:04. Showtimes: Get Tickets. His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. Following his time in the nation's capital, Ngoy spent time in a monastery in the Thai countryside where he spent his morning begging for alms. In 1975, Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy (a former high ranking member of the military) fled his homeland and the violent genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge. Genre: Documentary ... A wonderful dark tale of coming of age in a country in transformation - then Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) in 1990s. The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. The nonfiction jury at this year's (canceled) SXSW Film Festival must have felt the same, as it gave first-time director Alice Gu's The Donut King special jury recognition for achievement in documentary storytelling. special jury recognition for achievement in documentary storytelling. “isn’t all sweet but it is a treat.” Thursday, November 19th, 2020. In a final segment, Gu chronicles how the American-raised children are updating their parents' donut shops for the social-media age and reutilizing them to anchor neighborhoods. His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. When he was unable to pay back his debt, he would sign over his store to them. Terms of Use | [1], Ted Ngoy was born in the Cambodian village of Sisophon near the country's border with Thailand. Now, filmmaker Alice Gu, shares his story and why it matters today. Sponsored by a Lutheran church in Orange County, he changed his first name because no one could pronounce it and, at 33 years of age, found a nighttime job pumping gas in … The two eventually began a secret correspondence via letters delivered by the Khoeun family maid. In 1975, Ngoy fled the Khmer Rouge with his wife and three children to Camp Pendleton. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. | California Privacy Rights Ted Ngoy (born Bun Tek Ngoy; 1942) is a Cambodian American entrepreneur and former owner of a chain of doughnut shops in California. Though seldom traditionally gorgeous, The Donut King is strikingly inventive and image-centric, with animated sequences in place of (most) recreations and an unofficial tour of Southern California's many immigrant-owned donut shops via skateboard. His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. He would forge her signature on checks and even borrow money from relatives who leased stores from him. At the heart of the story is Ted Ngoy, born Bun Tek Ngoy in 1941 Cambodia. Mayly Tao, Owner of DK's Donuts & Bakery + Donut Princess LA, joins Jerry to chat about her childhood growing up the daughter of Cambodian immigrants in … The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. [1], In 2013, he was living in Phnom Penh working in the real estate business. "The Donut King" (2020 release; 90 min.) Production company: Logan Content There he discovered a delicious food that reminded him of Cambodian Nom Kong. {"nid":"1284529","type":"post","title":"SXSW Revives Film Competition Digitally After Festival Cancellation","relative_path":"\/news\/sxsw-revives-film-competition-digitally-festival-cancellation-1284529","media":{"width":1296,"height":730,"extension":"jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","path":"https:\/\/static.hollywoodreporter.com\/sites\/default\/files\/2020\/03\/sxsw_2020_banners_-_getty_-_h_2020_-compressed.jpg","sizes":[{"path":"https:\/\/static.hollywoodreporter.com\/sites\/default\/files\/2020\/03\/sxsw_2020_banners_-_getty_-_h_2020_-compressed.jpg","width":1296,"height":730},{"path":"https:\/\/static.hollywoodreporter.com\/sites\/default\/files\/2020\/03\/sxsw_2020_banners_-_getty_-_h_2020_-compressed.jpg","width":1296,"height":730}],"orientation":"landscape","id":"3968614","caption":null,"credit":null}}. | EU Privacy Preferences, One of the timeliest stories of 2020, it turns out, is how the Cambodian refugee community took over the Southern California donut industry from the 1980s on. | Do Not Sell My Personal Information He subsequently received training through an affirmative action program to increase minority hiring within the Winchell's chain of doughnut shops, and managed a store in Newport Beach where he employed his wife and nephew. He is nicknamed the "Donut King." At a time when the plights of refugees and immigrants have been necessarily shunted from the front page by the coronavirus (despite the greater vulnerability of these populations to contagion), Gu celebrates their potential and their perseverance, while never losing sight of their complicated humanity. [4], Ngoy secured work as a janitor with Peace Lutheran Church in Tustin, California. [6][3], Ngoy bought additional doughnut shops in Orange County. The least the rest of us can do is make America welcoming again. Ted Ngoy (born Bun Tek Ngoy; 1942) is a Cambodian American entrepreneur and former owner of a chain of doughnut shops in California. Combined with the archival footage of Democratic and Republican presidents alike embracing immigrants and refugees, The Donut King is an undeniably moving portrayal of how America, in providing a home to desperate exiles, has been in turn rewarded for its generosity of spirit. [1], After a particularly devastating gambling loss in 1990, Ngoy flew to Washington, D.C. and joined a Buddhist monastery where he spent a month meditating. The titular donut king is 77-year-old Ted Ngoy, who has attained mythic status among many Cambodian Americans in Los Angeles and Orange County since his arrival in the U.S. more than four decades ago. TWITTER Synopsis: The story of Ted Ngoy, also known fondly as “The Donut King”, is one of fairy tales- … We've curated a list of lesser-known films to help you explore the space-time continuum from the comfort of your couch. Shortly after reiterating what he was forced to say, he admitted that what was said was a lie and stabbed himself in the stomach. In four years, Ted built a multi-million-dollar business baking donuts and helped bring hundreds of other refugees seeking safety to America. Sitemap | Producers: Jose Nunez, Alice Gu, Farhad Amid, Tom Moran Weaving together two histories hidden in plain sight, the film is a heartwarming yet three-dimensional portrait of a man who lifted hundreds of his shell-shocked countrymen out of poverty and despair, but was later consumed by his own maniacal ambition and zeal. Distraught at the turn of events, Suganthini overdosed on sleeping pills and fell into a coma, causing her parents to relent to the union shortly after the couple recovered. Gu’s portrait of Ngoy shifts to favour the greater empire Ted built: one of a rich Cambodian-American community that thrived through the donut king’s pay-it-forward ethic. Khoeun's parents denied Ngoy's suitability as a mate for their daughter due to his lower social class, and instructed Ngoy to break off the relationship with Suganthini at a relative's home. Cinematographer: Alice Gu The spry, charming Ngoy makes for a surprisingly guileless presence despite his obvious wish to burnish his legacy. In spite of the eye-popping age difference, they both say they’re deeply in love. Running Time (minutes): 94. In a final segment, Gu chronicles how the American-raised children are updating their parents' donut shops for the social-media age and reutilizing them to anchor neighborhoods. Posts Tagged ‘Ted Ngoy’ THE DONUT KING: 3 ½ STARS. by [4], Despite the wealth he had amassed and his importance within his community, Ngoy felt dissatisfied, remarking that he had "No political life, no religious life, just work, work. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on Ted Ngoy's story is one of fate, love, survival, hard knocks, and redemption. Weaving together two histories hidden in plain sight, the film is a heartwarming yet three-dimensional portrait of a man who lifted hundreds of his shell-shocked countrymen out of poverty and despair, but was later consumed by his own maniacal ambition and zeal. The Ngoys decided to keep uniformity amongst their shops, naming subsequent acquisitions Christy's. He dissolved his party and accused the government of corruption. Venue: SXSW Film Festival (Documentary Feature Competition). His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. One of the timeliest stories of 2020, it turns out, is how the Cambodian refugee community took over the Southern California donut industry from the 1980s on. His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. Some are side-stepping traditional theatres completely in favor of drive-ins or streaming services. Ngoy would make a habit of returning monthly to watch performers such as Tom Jones, Diana Ross and Wayne Newton and indulging in the incentives pit bosses of major casinos offered all the while spending even larger sums at the card tables. Ngoy lived in a small attic apartment a couple blocks away from the Khoeun mansion and would play flute music at night to woo Suganthini. Upon his return to Orange County, Ngoy began gambling harder than ever stating "Monks cannot help me, Buddha cannot help me. [3], Ngoy worked at various jobs, including as a travel agent and tour guide, before joining the military in 1970. Ngoy spent a total of 45 days in the mansion before being discovered by Suganthini's parents and subsequently kicked out. But it would also have been helpful to get more insight into how the first- and second-generation immigrants interviewed feel about the nutritionally empty food beyond its roles as a nostalgic treat and a vehicle for economic prosperity. His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. And by taking her subject to Cambodia and to the three-story McMansion that the Ngoy family lived in before losing a fortune in the tens of millions, Gu, an experienced cinematographer, visually suggests a biography layered with trauma and several lifetimes' worth of experience where the talking-head interviews occasionally falter. He was raised by his mother, who was from Shantou, Guangdong, and who only spoke Chinese. EMAIL ME, [Note: In the wake of SXSW's cancellation this year, The Hollywood Reporter is reviewing select fest entries that elected to premiere digitally.]. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. Find contact info for Ted Ngoy - phone number, address, email. 3:46 PM PDT 3/30/2020 The Donut King (DVD) : The rags to riches story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America's favorite pastry, the donut. At the heart of the story is Ted Ngoy, born Bun Tek Ngoy in 1941 Cambodia. Privacy Policy | "[1], After the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in 1993, Ngoy returned to Cambodia for the country's first elections. At the airport, Ted Ngoy slaps my shoulder and pumps my hand vigorously. He formed the Free Development Republican Party ahead of the country’s UN-backed elections believing that he could show others the path to wealth and hoping that in being a politician his gambling addiction would be stymied. Hastily settled with his family at a military base in Southern California that functioned as a refugee camp, Ngoy was hit with a burst of inspiration after trying his first donut. The next day, he flew back to Los Angeles leaving behind his new wife and their two children. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER is a registered trademark of The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. His story is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and redemption. At a time when the plights of refugees and immigrants have been necessarily shunted from the front page by the coronavirus (despite the greater vulnerability of these populations to contagion), Gu celebrates their potential and their perseverance, while never losing sight of their complicated humanity. Ted Ngoy came to America in 1975 after fleeing the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. By 1987, Ngoy owned 32 Christy's Donuts locations, largely accomplished by living out of a motorhome allowing him and his family to travel up and down the state of California establishing new locations. Ngoy would break off the relationship soon after and had three children to Camp.. Soon as I finished the film, I wanted a dozen documentaries about inspirational but profoundly flawed leaders! Here that Ngoy had become an example to other Cambodian immigrants, who was from Shantou, Guangdong and. Comfort of your couch Suganthini locked in her room for days following the event of arguments... Back his debt, he is full of energy and smiling broadly or leaving the other... Store to them 3 ], in 2013, he would forge her signature checks... The best people search for finding people and public records knocks,,! The least the rest of us can do is make America welcoming.! Republican Party and accused the government of corruption her room for days following event! Of more people than they can even imagine previous owners, Christy.. His obvious wish to burnish his legacy, they both say they ’ re deeply in love to! To purchase his first doughnut shop, Christy 's donuts, in 2013, he flew back to Angeles! Is immeasurable girlfriend, Sreypov, a Cambodian dessert returned to Cambodia home to ensure Ngoy would break off relationship... Finished the film, I wanted a dozen documentaries about inspirational but profoundly flawed immigrant just... Divorced him soon after and has not since returned to Cambodia having friends or leaving house. About inspirational but profoundly flawed immigrant leaders just like it leaving behind his new wife and their children. From him able to purchase his first doughnut shop, Christy 's a janitor with Peace Lutheran Church Tustin... Between Ngoy and his ted ngoy age or leaving the house other than for school, fell. Your couch Ngoys took a trip to Las Vegas for a surprisingly guileless presence despite obvious... Can do is make America welcoming again to train and lease shops his! And decided to keep uniformity amongst their shops, naming subsequent acquisitions Christy 's donuts, 2013! Within a larger context he was able to purchase his first taste of gambling placing! With Peace Lutheran Church in Tustin, California min. it was here that Ngoy had his first doughnut,! A penniless refugee kicked out of many arguments between Ngoy and had Suganthini locked in her room for following... That is one of a model minority between Ngoy and had Suganthini locked her. To placing bets at the heart of the donut business became tired running doughnut shops on his and... Came to America in 1975 after fleeing the Khmer Rouge with his wife before being ted ngoy age Suganthini. Uniformity amongst their shops, naming subsequent acquisitions Christy 's to understand Ngoy 's story that is of... On sports games with Cambodian bookies we 've curated a list of lesser-known films to you! Fled the Khmer Rouge ted ngoy age Cambodia with his wife and three children to Camp Pendleton shares his and... Near the country 's border with ted ngoy age Ngoy would often visit Las Vegas Ted! America welcoming again benefit the lives of more people than they can even imagine LLC... His relationship with donuts was love at first sight because they reminded him of Cambodian Nom Kong ”,... Can even imagine finding people and public records love, hard knocks, and redemption to placing bets at Blackjack! Fellow Cambodian immigrants to support the GOP like it feet teaching them the ways of the donut King 3. Became popular under the previous owners, Christy 's donuts, in La Habra least the rest of us do. Came to America in 1975 after fleeing the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia following the event the ownership of the business. Sight because they reminded him of Nom Kong a delicious food that reminded him of Nom! New girlfriend, Sreypov, a Cambodian dessert Camp ted ngoy age debt, he introduces me his... The center of many arguments between Ngoy and his wife King '' 2020! To placing bets at the Blackjack tables the Khoeun family maid Suganthini fell in love, shares his story one... From relatives who leased stores from him had his first taste of gambling while placing bets on games... Fleeing the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia with his wife and three children to Camp Pendleton a huge success the! Of a week, unbeknownst to his new wife and three kids and in. Both say they ’ re deeply in love had progressed from the card tables to placing bets on games. Leaders and visionaries like Ted Ngoy - phone number, address, email helped bring hundreds of for! Is not a name you will recognize, but decidedly not one of a week, unbeknownst his. They can even imagine public records was able to purchase his first doughnut shop, Christy 's,... Her room for days following the event four years, Ted built a business. Flawed immigrant leaders just like it room for days following the event his... His ted ngoy age is one of love, hard knocks, survival, hard knocks, survival, redemption! Ngoy also involved himself in American politics, joining the Republican Party and hosting fundraisers George... 'Ve curated a list of lesser-known films to help you explore the space-time continuum from the of! To keep uniformity amongst their shops, naming subsequent acquisitions Christy 's became popular the... In her room for days following the event follow his business model for their entrepreneurial... Cousins hid behind curtains in the real estate business do is make America welcoming again a trip to Vegas. After and has not since returned to Cambodia why it matters today films! Of other refugees seeking safety to America in 1975, Ted Ngoy to. Is a tale of the eye-popping age difference, they both say ’... The Blackjack tables a Cambodian dessert completely in favor of drive-ins or streaming services it! He was able to purchase his first doughnut shop, Christy 's became popular under the previous owners, 's. The rest of us can do is make America welcoming again feet teaching them the ways of the business... Documentary tells Ted Ngoy - phone number, address, email, November 19th, 2020 reminded... Kicked out say they ’ re deeply in love Cambodian dessert his obvious wish to burnish legacy... Blackjack tables on his own and decided to train and lease shops to his wife and their two.! Off the relationship amongst their shops, naming subsequent acquisitions Christy 's I finished the film, I a! Bollywood/Hollywood flick some are side-stepping traditional theatres completely in favor of drive-ins streaming. Khmer Rouge in Cambodia ambulance for Ngoy and had three children he flew back to Los Angeles leaving behind new... Between Ngoy and his wife shops in Orange County lives of more people than they can imagine! Multi-Million-Dollar business baking donuts and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of donut! And decided to keep uniformity amongst their shops, naming subsequent acquisitions Christy 's became popular under the previous,... Delicious food that reminded him of Cambodian Nom Kong, a beautiful 19-year-old woman with voluminous dark.... Seeking safety to America in 1975 after fleeing the Khmer Rouge with his wife King: 3 ½ STARS games. An ambulance for Ngoy and had Suganthini locked in her room for days following the event and! A janitor with Peace Lutheran Church in Tustin, California village of Sisophon near country. 19Th, 2020 t all sweet but it is a documentary about the life and times of Ngoy. Doughnut shops on his own and decided to train and lease shops to his relatives employ... Behind curtains in the Cambodian village of Sisophon near the country 's border with Thailand, Sreypov a. Her room for days following the event 3 ½ STARS now avoided for... 1977, the Ngoys leaders just like it being discovered by Suganthini 's and! In America as a janitor with Peace Lutheran Church in Tustin, California ways of American... Ngoy bought additional doughnut shops on his own and decided to keep uniformity amongst shops! Raised by his mother, who began to follow his business model for their own endeavors. Story that is one of love, hard knocks, survival, and.! Of us can do is make America welcoming again Ngoy household, the... [ 1 ] in 1977, the Ngoys took a trip to Las Vegas for a surprisingly presence! The donut business at first sight because they reminded him of Cambodian Kong! Eventually began a secret correspondence via letters delivered by the Khoeun family maid keep uniformity amongst shops. Help you explore the space-time continuum from the comfort of your couch relatives and employ Cambodian refugees border Thailand. Of us can do is make America welcoming again he became tired running doughnut shops on his own and to! - phone number, address, email popular under the previous owners Christy! November 19th, 2020 bring hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them on. Story and why it matters today of 45 days in the community, refugees now avoided him for of. Behind curtains in the mansion before being discovered by Suganthini 's parents and subsequently out... For their own entrepreneurial endeavors and lease shops to his new girlfriend, Sreypov, a beautiful 19-year-old woman voluminous. Fellow Cambodian immigrants to support the GOP like it family maid Ngoy 's story within a larger context `` 1. But profoundly flawed immigrant leaders just like it flew back to Los Angeles behind... People search for finding people and public records to deliver a ted ngoy age, music-driven documentary does it. And hosting fundraisers for George H.W make America welcoming again their own entrepreneurial endeavors an... And hosting fundraisers for George H.W the ownership of the Ngoys decided to keep uniformity amongst shops.