Sixteen-year-old Dara Samnang lives a seemingly ordinary life in Long Beach, California, juggling school, a part-time job, and friendships. But beneath the surface of her everyday routine lies a hidden legacy, a past shrouded in silence.  One sweltering afternoon, a forgotten chest in the garage reveals a treasure trove of intricately carved shadow puppets, whispering tales of a Cambodia Dara has only glimpsed in her father’s melancholic music.  These puppets unlock a door to a past she never knew, a past haunted by the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge.

Her father, Sorn, a once celebrated puppeteer, reluctantly agrees to teach Dara the ancient art, unveiling a world of myth and legend. But as Dara delves deeper into the vibrant world of shadow and light, Sorn’s stories transcend mythology, revealing fractured memories of starvation, fear, and unimaginable choices made under the brutal regime. Each puppet becomes a tangible piece of his past, some representing real people lost or betrayed in his desperate fight for survival.

Faced with a life forever altered by history, Dara grapples with the weight of her father’s secrets.  An invitation to perform at the Cambodian-American Community Center presents a daunting dilemma: should she expose her father’s past, shattering the fragile peace he’s built, or perpetuate the silence?

As the performance draws near, Dara finds solace in the vibrant tapestry of Long Beach’s Cambodian community, connecting with others who carry the same unspoken history.  Her friendships deepen, her art flourishes, and the stories of the puppets intertwine with her own coming-of-age journey.  Can she find the courage to bring her family’s story to light, weaving a tapestry of healing and reconciliation from the threads of a shattered past?  In a breathtaking culmination of art, memory, and courage, Dara must choose between silence and truth, between protecting her father and honoring her heritage. The Shadow Puppeteer’s Daughter is a powerful story of resilience, identity, and the enduring power of storytelling to illuminate even the darkest corners of the human experience.