When it comes to getting rid of cultural stereotypes, art plays an important role in teaching people about cultures, the way(s) they are perceived and how some of these ideas may be wrong and therefore worth correcting. Interestingly, being or even living in a new culture oftentimes coincides with the fact people suppress that part of themselves in order to not cause any attention due to the aforementioned stereotypes. International Short Film Festival
In the streets of Brooklyn, Chen (Rob Chen) and Ayaka (Lyrica Okano) run a more or less successful pickpocket scheme. The two have become close friends over the past years which has served them well in an environment not only defined by crime, but also the everyday racism they sometimes have to face. As the leader of their gang asks them to pick up another member who got into a fight with the head of a Korean gang, Joo (Jae Shin), it puts the two of them in a tight spot as they will have to negotiate without causing any violence nor draw attention from the authorities.
Considering the views of its director and how the story of the feature was influenced by his experiences, you may think “Secret Lives of Asians” could be a movie with some kind of agenda. If there is one, it is very well hidden, because for the most part, the 18-minute-short is a true blast from start to finish, offering a blend of comedy and gangster drama, with even a bit of musical thrown in for good measure. On the same note, the actors seem to be having a blast as well, which is evident in the performances and the way the scenes are delivered, especially the musical one in the finale, which may also be seen as an ironic take on the way Asians are perceived in Western culture.
Aside from the tone and the acting, factors such as the music and the use of light and color also play an important part in creating the aforementioned effect of the feature. The director highlights his prowess of the various genres, creating the noir-ish tone of the gangster drama, while also employing the structure of a music video in the last part of “Secret Lives of Asians”. Robbin Feng's cinematography as well as the director's editing are important elements when it comes to the transitions from each part or mood, which adds to the short feature being an entertaining overview of the contribution of Asian cultures especially to movies.
In the end, “Secret Lives of Asians” is a highly entertaining and versatile feature, blending gangster drama, comedy and even musical. The filmmaker manages to find the right tone and images for each segment, and consequently highlights the various factors of Asian culture and why it should be celebrated.
