For all of May, Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans celebrate their heritage. It is a special time for understanding culture and traditions as well as sharing those things with others. Movies have especially helped frame and interpret the entire experience.
Films are an important measure of how Asian and Pacific Islander Americans honor their heritage and form their legacy. They also paint a picture of what they have endured over the years in America.
Updated on May 25th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati: May of each year brings a chance to celebrate and uplift the Asian American and Pacific Islander American communities. One of the best ways to celebrate the heritage month is to watch movies that feature AAPI cast and crew and that explore AAPI experiences. Thankfully, there are more movie options than ever before that do just that. From independent movies that dive deep into the AAPI experience to superhero blockbusters and family-friendly animated movies, there's no excuse not to watch at least one AAPI-centered movie this month.
Picture Bride (1995)
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Set in 1918, a young woman from Yokohama becomes a "picture bride" for a Japanese man working abroad in Hawaii. A picture bride is a woman who is married off to Asian men overseas, and their only correspondence beforehand is the exchange of photos.
When Riyo reaches Hawaii, she learns the man she's marrying isn't the one pictured in his photo. Now, she must work on the sugarcane plantation if she wants to earn enough money to win her freedom and return to Japan. Picture Bride is directed by Hawaiian-born Kayo Hatta.
American Pastime (2007)
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American Pastime tells a story set in the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah. This internment camp held Japanese Americans captive during World War II. The movie depicts life in this specific camp; it is based on true events. The movie was even shot not too far from the actual camp.
This uplifting tale of dark times in America shows how imprisoned Japanese Americans dealt with their ordeal. This includes playing baseball and breaking cultural barriers. The movie is directed by Desmond Nakano.
Minari (2020)
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Written and directed by Lee Issac Chung, Minari is a semi-autobiographical movie about a South Korean family who immigrated to the rural United States in the 1980s. The movie doesn't shy away from exposing the highs and lows of what it was like for Korean families trying to assimilate into American culture.
Minari was not only impactful to the Asian audiences who could relate to the story but to immigrants and audiences of all backgrounds. It went on to be nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture and won Best ing Actress.
Chan is Missing (1982)
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This black-and-white indie comedy revolves around a taxicab driver and his nephew searching for the man they left their life savings with—the titular Chan. As the two explore Chinatown in search of the missing Chan, they learn more about the man they apparently never knew.
Chan is Missing is regarded as a vastly undervalued and underseen slice of urban Chinese-American life in the 1980s. The movie is directed by Wayne Wang.
Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)
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Better Luck Tomorrow challenges preconceived notions and stereotypes about Asian Americans; the "model minority" myth is defied by palatable studies of fallible characters.
A straight-edge high school student named Ben becomes bored with his perfect life. When he meets the rebellious Daric, Ben gets involved in petty crime. The movie is directed by Justin Lin of Fast & Furious fame.
The Farewell (2019)
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Written and directed by Lulu Wang and distributed by A24, The Farewell is a heartfelt comedy-drama movie released in 2019. The movie follows a Chinese-American family who decides not to tell their dying grandmother that she is ill and instead gets the family together to spend the last of her good days by her side.
The Farewell offers an authentic look into the importance of family in Chinese-American culture since it is based on Wang's own life experiences. Adding to the authenticity is the fact that the award-nominated movie is bilingual with dialogue spoken in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
The Tiger Hunter (2016)
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Danny Pudi, best known for playing Abed in Community, stars as an Indian immigrant who moves to Chicago in the 1970s to pursue a better life. His father was highly regarded for killing a vicious tiger that menaced the village. To live up to his father's legacy, Sami hopes to become a successful engineer in the U.S.
Sadly, Sami can only get a lowly job that he believes will disappoint his family and the woman he loves back home. In time, he realizes success isn't necessarily measured by one's occupation. The Tiger Hunter is directed by Lena Khan.
Gook (2017)
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Actor turned director Justin Chon also stars in this emotional story set around the "1992 Los Angeles riots." Chon and his Korean-American character's brother run their late father's struggling shoe store in a predominantly African-American area in Paramount.
As the riots begin, the brothers and their 11-year-old friend fight to protect the shop from harm.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
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When Jon M. Chu set out to direct the adaptation of the Kevin Kwan novel Crazy Rich Asians, he had no idea what a phenomenon the romantic comedy would become. The movie follows Rachel Chu and her boyfriend Nick Young who return to Nick's home country of Singapore for his best friend's marriage. While in Singapore, Rachel's Chinese-American heritage is scrutinized by Nick's old-Chinese thinking.
While the movie was criticized by some AAPI communities because of the movie's need to cast biracial actors, it still proved to be a massive hit and a win for AAPI representation. It was the highest-grossing romantic comedy of the 2010s and the first major Hollywood studio movie to feature a majority cast of Chinese descent since the 90s.
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (2000)
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A transracial family — here, Vietnamese children were placed into the care of African-American guardians — is at the core of this little-known drama. Named after the Vietnamese delicacy, the movie has two Vietnamese-American adults feeling torn by their two identities.
When their biological mother shows up, their adoptive parents feel excluded. Catfish in Black Bean Sauce is directed by Chi Muoi Lo.
