The 11th annual Asian American Showcase, presented by the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media and the Gene Siskel Film Center, runs Friday,
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Baby Johnny Ching’s velvety digital cinematography and an authoritative supporting performance by veteran character actor Tzi Ma (The Quiet American) distinguish this 2005 gangster drama set in east Los Angeles. A motherless Asian-American kid falls in with the hoodlums next door and kills their criminal rival; years later he’s released from prison and heads straight back into trouble. As the protagonist, babyfaced David Huynh is annoyingly blank until the second half, when the pace quickens and he evolves into a hardened criminal. Juwan Chung directed, with more style than originality. In English and subtitled Mandarin and Cantonese. 99 min. (AG) a Sat 3/31, 7:45 PM.
RColma: The Musical This hip little coming-of-age comedy marks the feature debuts of gifted director Richard Wong and actor-screenwriter-songwriter H.P. Mendoza. Set in dreary Colma, California (“home of cemeteries and car dealerships”), it follows three teenagers fresh out of high school–gay Rodel (Mendoza), straight Billy (Jake Moreno), and Maribel (L.A. Renigen), the gal pal both boys take for granted–as they slouch toward adulthood and face the dissolution of their tight unit. Packed with catchy pop melodies, humorously deadpan lyrics, and imaginative musical staging, the movie combines quirky irony with insights into adolescent angst. 119 min. (Albert Williams) a Sat 3/31, 3 PM.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): Colma: The Musical.
