See our best bets for the Asian-American films at CAAMFest.
Here are 5 movies you shouldn’t miss at Asian-American film/culture series
CAAMFest 36, the Center for Asian American Media’s annual festival, celebrates not only the cinematic achievements of filmmakers but the actions and creativity of influential people and artists with Bay Area connections. There’s also great food, live music and much more during its run today through May 24.
The fest kicks off today with a documentary that is of particular interest to South Bay audiences. “An American Story: Norman Mineta and His Legacy” chronicles the life and career of the former San Jose mayor and U.S. Cabinet secretary. Bay Area filmmaker Diane Fukami’s documentary screens at 7 p.m. at the Castro in San Francisco.
The fest concludes May 24 with “Aunt Lily’s Flower Book: One Hundred Years of Legalized Racism,” which features a live performance accompanied to music from Mark Izu and Shoko Hikage. The Bay Area’s Brenda Wong Aoki takes the stage to narrate a family’s story about coping with discrimination. It will be performed twice at the Herbst on May 24.
CAAMFest 36 teems with a number of other worthwhile features, but here are five films I wholeheartedly recommend:
“DEAD PIGS” >> Cathy Yan rocketed to prominence when Warner Bros. and DC Comics tapped her to direct an upcoming Harley Quinn stand-alone feature
with Margot Robbie. Smart move, studio bigwigs, since her award-winning feature debut, “Dead Pigs,” is so raucously entertaining. Taking a page from of a real-life chapter in Shanghai — when diseased, dead pigs kept clogging up the river — Yan fashions a quirky, engaging and feisty tale that unites
the plights of kooky characters coping with an everchanging city, country and culture. What a bravura debut. (Sunday at the Kabuki; May 20 at the Roxie)
“BITTER MELON” >> San Francisco filmmaker H.P. Mendoza’s dark comedy is receiving its world premiere along with a coveted Centerpiece
slot, and boy is it likely to divide audiences. A highly dysfunctional Filipino-American family gathers for a holiday celebration in the city, but the festivities are hardly jolly due to the deplorable actions of an abusive, belligerent brother. Mendoza goes for broke, shifting tones throughout while taking the story on some narrative hairpin turns. The end result is a risk taker that will make you laugh and wince, and
become very uncomfortable. (Saturday at the Kabuki; May 19 at the Roxie; May 23 at the Piedmont)
“FUTBOLISTAS 4 LIFE” >> If you’re in need of an inspirational story fresh out of Oakland, check out Jun Stinson’s 40-minute documentary about how soccer influenced the lives of East Bay youths at Life Academy High School. Stinson follows Dania Cabello, a determined East Bay soccer
coach whose perseverance led players — who are mostly immigrants or from immigrant families — to get a field to play their sport. Stinson focuses on two young people, Ben and April, as they grapple with internal and external forces. It couldn’t be more topical. (May 22 at the Piedmont)
“A LITTLE WISDOM” >> Yuqi Kang’s immersive cinematic experience invites audiences to witness the rituals and cycles of life in a Nepalese monastery via the eyes of two parentless brothers. The youngest sibling, Hopakuli, is Kang’s focus as we watch the struggles both boys go through while they fight (quite violently at times) and try to come to grips with whom they are and what they want to be. (Saturday at the Kabuki; May 22 at the Piedmont)
“SAVING SALLY” >> In this colorful, vibrant love story a besotted Marty is in forever love with his best friend, but she’s drawn to a dork. Director Avid Liongoren gives this young adult story all kinds of creative punch through the use of a lively animated backdrop, one that’s framed around Marty’s fantasy fanboy world. It’s a lot of fun. (Saturday at the Kabuki)