Description

Food — whether as a symbol that passes through generations, or a visual accent at a particular moment — takes on almost anthropomorphic qualities in these humorous family tales and realistic dramas. – Curated by Mark V. Reyes, R.J. Lozada

Co-presented by: Asia Society of North California

In This Program

1. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer

   Craftsman

   Jesse Flower-Ambroch / USA / 2012 / Documentary, Short / 3 mins

   In this precise piece, Craftsman captures the waning days of Japanese knife sharpening, as seen through the work of Master Chiharu Sugai. 

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2. 

   Kae

   Lana Dang / USA / 2012 / Narrative Fiction, Short / 10 mins

   Joe takes his children, Lia and Kanoa, fishing on the Hawaiian docks. In this comical short for the family, Kae is about how the unexpected waits in sometimes-overbearing efforts, and the quiet redemptive quality in being present.

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   Kimchi Fried Dumplings

   Jason Karman / Canada / 2013 / Narrative Fiction, Short / 14 mins

   An Asian Canadian man comes home with a new boyfriend for Christmas to find his younger brother, who is also gay, resentful for being left to care for their aging parents. With a lovable and quirky cast, Kimchi Fried Dumplings will make you feel at home, dysfunction and all.

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4. 

   Mamori

   Ben Wang / USA / 2012 / 10 mins

   Every summer, director Ben Wang’s grandmother picks, stews and cans tomatoes at Matsumura Farms in Esparto, CA. This short documentary uncovers a family tale of commitment and earnest life lessons passed from one generation to the next.

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   Mother’s Milk

   Andy DeJohn / USA / 2011 / Narrative Fiction, Short / 18 mins

   In this lushly shot period piece set in the Vietnamese countryside, two daughters live simply under the care of their mother. The cornfields are where this trio finds their sustenance, but when unexpected changes occur, roles shift, and bonds become strained.

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   Persimmon

   Dean Yamada / USA / 2011 / Narrative Fiction, Short / 20 mins

   In this meditative and poetic short, Tamotsu is faced with two unexpectedly difficult problems: an elderly man who won’t eat, and a persimmon that won’t dry. Through his interactions with a tableau of seemingly disparate characters, Tamotsu is faced with the meaning of death and life, and the process of letting go.

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7. 

   Sugar Bowl

   Shasha Nakhai, Rich Williamson / Canada / 2011 / Documentary, Short / 20 mins

   The Sugar Bowl documents an island in the Philippines and the rise and fall of its sugar cane industry. A chorus of three characters from varying backgrounds collectively tells the story of the industry’s demise.

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