Americanese

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Americanese
Directed by Eric Byler
Produced by Lisa Onodera
Written by Eric Byler
Based on the novel "American Knees" by Shawn Wong
Starring Chris Tashima
Allison Sie
Kelly Hu
Ben Shenkman
Autumn Reeser
and
Joan Chen
Music by Michael Brook
Cinematography Rob Humphreys
Stacy Toyama
Editing by Kenn Kashima
Distributed by IFC First Take
Release date(s) 2008
Running time 110 min.
Country Flag of the United States U.S.A.
Language English
Official website
IMDb profile

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.

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[edit] 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.[1] Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film 3½ stars,[2] calling it "...uncommonly absorbing." In October 2006, IFC Films acquired the film for distribution, under their IFC First Take distribution arm,[3] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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)

[edit] Film Festivals

[edit] 2006

[edit] 2007

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

[edit] External links