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Reviews
American Born Chinese (2023)
A Hero's Journey
The film explores Jin's experiences as a Chinese American trying to fit in with the cool kids in high school, his efforts to find where and how he belongs in a predominantly white culture, his parents' struggles with claiming their place in society and being recognized, and most importantly, Jin's need to find his own identity. There are flashbacks to Asian stereotypes as viewed in a 90's sitcom and how the stereotypes persist and affect Jin and Asians in general. The film uses Journey to the West, one of the four great Chinese classics, to connect Jin to a Chinese student, as well as to his cultural heritage. In the end, Jin learns that he can be the hero, an empowering and life-changing concept.
Fisk (2021)
Quirky and Fun
I was hooked immediately and marathoned S1 in one afternoon. The characters, especially Fisk, are quirky and original. My favorites were the grandmother Airbnb owner, the portrait painter, and the klepto mother and daughter. They have their own weaknesses, foibles, and strengths, and their interactions are unpredictable; at times hilarious, ridiculous, and yes, tender. I agree that the first episodes were the strongest.
As the season progresses it's good to see Fisk develop her professional skills as well as her ability to relate to other people including her family, coworkers, and clients. She also gains a clearer perspective of herself.
An Cailín Ciúin (2022)
Finding Family
Sometimes you find unconditional love and acceptance outside of your birth family. Cait is not accepted by her family; her silence unnerves those around her. Yet she has never been encouraged to find her voice. In fact, there may be reasons why Cait keeps her silence and secrets. With her mother expecting yet another child, Cait is fostered out to an elderly couple one summer. The beauty of this film is watching how relationships develop between these three characters, Cait and the couple, through the spare conversations, small gestures, and quiet moments that make up daily life. Through these experiences they learn from each other and gain the emotional strength to move on.
Doraibu mai kâ (2021)
Drive My Car Takes Us on a Journey
Drive My Car is adapted from a short story by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. There are other film adaptations of his short stories; for instance the 2018 Korean film Burning is based on Murakami's Barn Burning which is, in turn, based on a Faulkner story. The beauty of Murakami adaptations is his concise writing that allows directors room to explore characters and expand plot albeit within a set framework. Drive My Car is about grief and loss, for the main protagonist, an actor turned director whose current project is Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, and for the driver assigned to him. Their relationship, which develops through conversations within the safety of the car, enables both to confront their pasts and move on. We also wonder at the end, how well do we really know one another? Can we really know all there is to know about even those closest to us?
Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story GIFT at Tokyo Dome (2023)
Yuzuru Hanyu Shares His Gift
Yuzuru Hanyu's Ice Story/Gift is mesmerizing; I've watched it several times and keep returning to rewatch it. I think viewers fall into two groups - those who watched Hanyu skate competitively and perform in ice shows throughout his career and those of you who watched Gift with no previous exposure. For me, Gift expands the possibilities of what an ice show can be - an experience combining new and iconic skating programs, personal stories, music, visual projections of Hanyu, Japanese characters, nature, and stunning designs. The content is not easy to process - as usual Hanyu stays true to his concepts and visions; we are expected to follow along and we do. In the process we learn that Hanyu's Ice Story is also our story. It's easy to understand why he is loved and respected worldwide.