"The Girl Who Spelled Freedom" is an episode of The Disney Sunday Movie. It originally aired on ABC on February 23, 1986.
Synopsis[]
A Cambodian family is given sponsored immigration to the United States where one daughter becomes a spelling bee champion. In the mid 1970s, a young girl's family must endure a nightmarish life in her native country of Cambodia under the domination of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. But things change for the better when an American family agrees to sponsor their immigration to the United States of America. They soon prove to have some difficulty adjusting to their new home as with language barriers and survival habits that are not necessary anymore, but are hard to break. While they are learning, one of the daughters struggles harder than the others and is personally driven to become a champion contender in spelling bees.
Cast[]
- Wayne Rogers as George Thrash
- Mary Kay Place as Prissy Thrash
- Kieu Chinh as Phoen Yann
- Kathleen Sisk as Laura Thrash
- Margot Pinvidic as Mandy
- Susan Walden as Suanna
- Blu Mankuma as Henry Turner
- Jade Chinn as Linn Yann
- Diana Ung as Kiev Yann
- Linda Wong as Yieng Yann
- Jasmin Tam as Ngor Yann
- Wilson Lo as Chhoueng Yann
- Raymond Lui as Hing Yann
- Robert Broyles as Jim
- Shawn Clements as Billy
- Don Davis as Realtor
- Tom Heaton as Buddy Brannan
- Gary Hetherington as Bill Johnson
- Garrick Jang as Thai Soldier
- Don MacKay as Dr. Fitzroy
- Terry David Mulligan as Zack Coley
- Ron Tarrant as Judge, Cheerleading Contest
- Keeman Wong as Thai Sergeant
- Meredith Bain Woodward as Elinor Howes (credited as Meredith Woodward)
- Janet Wright as Woman Neighbor
Gallery[]
