THEY CALL ME THE TATTOO WITCH
Synopsis
In Hanoi, Vietnam, tattoo artist Tran Ngoc specializes in the rare and challenging art of tattooing over scars. Despite the social stigma surrounding tattoos in Vietnam, Ngoc empowers her clients, including breast cancer survivors and women with self-harm scars, to reclaim their bodies, demonstrating that her work is a profound act of compassion and resilience.
Film Screening & Ticket Information
When & Where to See this Film!
…COMING SOON…
Film Information
From the Director
Director Statement
My passion for documenting extraordinary women led me to Tran Ngoc, a maverick tattoo artist I discovered on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. Intrigued by her unique approach to tattooing over scars and her profound impact on clients, I reached out with a desire to share her story. I assembled a talented all-female crew from Hanoi, whose insights ensured our storytelling was authentic and culturally respectful.
Though I met with Ngoc virtually for months, we couldn’t confirm her clients’ participation in advance. This created a delicate challenge: meeting her clients in Hanoi for the first time and sharing my vision directly. Witnessing their openness and gratitude reassured me that we were creating something meaningful together, which was deeply affirming for me as a director.
It was powerful to witness how Ngoc connected with her clients during filming and truly embodied the film’s central theme in real time: realizing that their appreciation and recognition held greater meaning than societal validation. This project reflects my commitment to celebrating women’s strength and resilience, both in front of and behind the camera.
Director Biography
Lindsay Nyman, a New York native, began her career as an actress before transitioning to writing and directing at UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. After writing the award-winning narrative short The Blind Center, she launched the initiative Film By The Blind, producing and championing films by blind and low-vision filmmakers. She discovered her passion for documentary filmmaking while creating video content for a women-driven social impact venture in Southeast Asia, which led her to discover the subject of her debut short documentary, They Call Me The Tattoo Witch. She directed the film in Hanoi, Vietnam, working with a local, all-female crew she assembled for the project. She is currently completing an international documentary short on peace leadership and developing future storytelling projects with a focus on women’s voices.
Credits
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Lindsay NymanDirector
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Lindsay NymanProducer
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Katie ElenekeDirector of Photography
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Marilyn Phạm DacusinEditor
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