Note: Interviews and events referenced in this article took place before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and contains quotes from talent who are not members of those organizations. We stand in solidarity with members of both organizations.
With Shortcomings premiering at Sundance Film Festival, Randall Park could not have asked for a splashier directorial debut. The movie owes part of its positive reception to its relatively novel take on Asian American storytelling through everyday, mundane moments.
Interviewing Justin H. Min (“Ben”), Ally Maki (“Miko”), and Park himself, Cold Tea Collective dives into what exactly makes Shortcomings so special.
Just “Friends Hanging Out”
Shortcomings is based on Adrian Tomine’s 2007 graphic novel. Park recalls being immediately struck by the “everyday, lived-in quality” of the story when he read the novel soon after its release.
“I hadn’t seen media reflected back at me that felt so real and so deeply Asian American,” he says, “It felt like me and my friends hanging out.”
Scenes filled with relatable conversations in diners and sidewalks capture the authentic moments of daily Asian American life. Shortcomings departs from the focus on the Asian American family unit in contemporary critically-acclaimed films like Everything Everywhere All at Once or Minari, with its emphasis on friendships and romance.
The narrative revolves around Ben, a struggling filmmaker, and his girlfriend, Miko, who moves to New York City for an internship. With some space in their relationship, Ben and Miko navigate different possibilities in their lives. Park describes the movie as about flawed Asian Americans in the Bay Area who are at a crossroads in their lives and must confront impending change.
The value of an Asian American cast and crew
Park believes the strength of his film lies in its ability to draw out a deeply Asian American story without focusing explicitly…
Read the full article here
