Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy

Made in Vietnam; cast and filmmakers are all Vietnamese. There does appear to be some colorism in play, since prominent female characters are lighter skinned and look more "stereotypically" East Asian, despite the fact that there are a variety of skin tones among Southeast Asian people. Still, the film offers valuable representation for Vietnamese American viewers, since Asian actors are underrepresented in Hollywood films.

A child is grieving his mother's death. Violence played as comic includes henchpeople being hit on the head, Maika attacking baddies in self-defense, and a knife falling into someone's shoulder.

Suggested nudity when Maika arrives on Earth. Hung's friend moons one of the henchmen.

Language includes "dammit," "ass," and "crazy" (used in a potentially ableist way).

Brief smoking.

Parents need to know that Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy is a Vietnamese family action-adventure about a child who's grieving his mother's death when he unexpectedly finds a friend in an alien girl. It has some comic violence (people being hit on the head or with a knife, someone attacking baddies in self-defense, etc.) as well as moments of implied or suggested nonsexual child nudity. There's also brief smoking, rude humor, and some minor language ("dammit," "ass"). Themes include courage, curiosity, and empathy, and the film addresses grief, making it clear that grief is a complicated set of emotions that requires communication and bonding between family members in order for it to not become toxic.

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