Americanese

Infobox Film
name = Americanese


caption =
director = Eric Byler
producer = Lisa Onodera
writer = Eric Byler
Based on the novel "American Knees" by Shawn Wong
narrator =
starring = Chris Tashima
Allison Sie
Kelly Hu
Ben Shenkman
Autumn Reeser and
Joan Chen
music = Michael Brook
cinematography = Rob Humphreys
Stacy Toyama
editing = Kenn Kashima
distributor = IFC First Take
released = 2008
runtime = 110 min.
country = flagicon|USA U.S.A.
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.americanesethemovie.com
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0402763

"Americanese" is an upcoming American independent feature film to be released in 2008. It is a romantic drama about the break-up of a couple, about love and memory, and how race plays into the lives of contemporary Asian Americans and "Hapa"/mixed-race Americans.

Background

The film was written and directed by Eric Byler, adapted from the novel, "American Knees," by Shawn Wong. It was produced by Lisa Onodera, who optioned the book when it was first published in 1995. The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) in 2006, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature and a Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Cast. [http://www.indiewire.com/ots/2006/03/bylers_american.html Americanese wins at SXSW] on IndieWire] Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film 3½ stars, [ [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/REVIEWS/603300302 Ebert reviews Americanese] in Chicago Sun-Times] calling it "...uncommonly absorbing." In October 2006, IFC Films acquired the film for distribution, under their IFC First Take distribution arm, [ [http://www.indiewire.com/buzz/061015.html Americanese acquired by IFC] on IndieWire] which will release the film in 2008 on a "day-and-date" platform, which will include a limited theatrical release accompanied simultaneously with a video on demand (VOD) broadcast premiere on Comcast cable.

Plot

Raymond Ding, a middle-aged Chinese American college professor, and Aurora Crane, his younger "Hapa" (half-Asian) girlfriend, have just split, but continue to drift in and out of each other's lives. Unable to fully let go, Raymond visits the apartment they once shared, during the day while Aurora is away. Aurora is haunted by flashbacks of moments from their relationship. Encouraged by their best friends to move on, Raymond and Aurora each begin new relationships. Aurora dates Steve, a Caucasian man closer to her age (and also her best friend's ex). Raymond dates Betty, a Vietnamese American colleague, whom he soon discovers is haunted by her own past. Race and identity issues begin to surface as Raymond and Aurora try to start new lives, but remain drawn to their past.

Cast

* Chris Tashima as "Raymond Ding"
* Allison Sie as "Aurora Crane"
* Joan Chen as "Betty Nguyen"
* Kelly Hu as "Brenda Nishitani"
* Ben Shenkman as "Steve"
* Sab Shimono as "Wood Ding"
* Michael Paul Chan as "Jimmy Chan"
* Autumn Reeser as "Sylvia"
* Ryan Cutrona as "Hank Crane"
* Takayo Fischer as "Keiko Crane"
* Annie Katsura Rollins as "Julia Crane"
* Greg Watanabe as "Young Wood"
* Stephen Bishop as "Miles"
* Munda Razooki as "Test Driver #1"
* Nathaniel H. Taylor as "Test Driver #2"
* Tyler Hori as "Little Raymond"
* Michael Potter as "University Administrator"
* Carol Saraceno as "Woman with Dog"
* Yuri Treschuck as "Amerasian Youth at Bus Stop"
* Jen Brown as "Rumana"
* Kayvon Esmaili as "Brenda's Boyfriend at Party"
* Teddy Chen Culver as "Rumana's Boyfriend"
* Pearl Wong as "Helen Ding"
* Amanda Fuller as "Holly" (deleted scene)

Film Festivals

2006

*South by Southwest Film Festial, in competition – Austin, TX
*24th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, Opening Night film – San Francisco, CA
*11th Chicago Asian American Showcase, Opening Night film – Chicago, IL
*22nd VC FilmFest, Closing Night film – Los Angeles, CA
*9th Aurora Asian Film Festival, Opening Night film – Aurora, CO
*32nd Seattle International Film Festival – Seattle, WA
*7th DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, Opening Night film – Washington, DC
*14th Hamptons International Film Festival, in competition – East Hampton, NY
*26th Hawaii International Film Festival – Honolulu, HI
*29th Denver Film Festival – Denver, CO

2007

*9th Wisconsin Film Festival, Diaspora Melancholy: Asian American Films, co-presented by the Asian American Studies Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison – Madison, WI

Awards

*Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature – SXSW
*Special Jury Prize – Outstanding Ensemble Cast – SXSW
*Golden Space Needle Audience Award – Best Actor, 2nd Runner-Up (Chris Tashima) – Seattle International Film Festival [ [http://www.altfg.com/blog/awards/seattle-film-festival-2006-awards/ 2006 SIFF Award winners] on Alternative Film Guide]

References

External links

* [http://www.americanesethemovie.com Official Site]
*imdb title|id=0402763|title=Americanese
* [http://www.myspace.com/americanesemovie "Americanese"] on MySpace
* [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/REVIEWS/603300302 Roger Ebert review] at Chicago Sun-Times
* [http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/asian/arts_culture_media/ikeda_americanese_review_0306.asp in-depth critique by Stewart David Ikeda on IMDiversity.com]
* [http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/asian/arts_culture_media/macdonald_wong_byler_0406.asp Shawn Wong and Eric Byler discuss "Americanese" on IMDiversity.com]
* [http://www.nwasianweekly.com/200726019/bookfest20072619.htm Shawn Wong discusses "American Knees" becoming a movie, at Rainbow Bookfest (minority authors)] in Northwest Asian Weekly