"Americanese" film screening: DC APA Film Festival Opening Night September 28, 2006

The 7th Annual DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival
Opening Night Film

AMERICANESE
Directed by Eric Byler
2006, 107 min, Color, 35mm, USA

Landmark E Street Cinema
7:30 PM
Cost: $15

Ticket includes free admission to Opening Night Reception at Chloe, 9:30 PM.
Director Eric Byler and actors Chris Tashima and Allison Sie scheduled to attend.

Film synopsis:
Adapted from the Shawn Wong’s highly regarded Asian American novel, “American Knees”, Eric Byler’s second feature film, AMERICANESE, explores the subtle racial tensions that exist in ethnically mixed Asian American relationships. Raymond (Chris Tashima, DAY OF INDEPENDENCE), a 40-year-old divorced Chinese American college professor, and Aurora (Allison Sie), a much younger biracial Japanese American photographer, have recently ended their relationship after living together for 2 years. Although the break-up was amicable, memories of their relationship continue to invade their every day thoughts as they both try to move on with their lives. Aurora starts dating Steve, who is white, and Raymond begins a relationship with Betty (Joan Chen, SAVING FACE), a Vietnamese professor who has haunting secrets of her own. With strong performances from an experienced supporting cast including Kelly Hu (THE SCORPION KING; X2), Sab Shimono (ROBOT STORIES) and Michael Paul Chan (THE JOY LUCK CLUB), AMERICANESE is wonderfully paced to allow the audience to feel the textures of emotions of these conflicted characters as they wrestle with their own inner traumas, question their identities, and deal with the impact it ultimately has on their relationships.

Writer and director Eric Byler’s first film, CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES (2002 DC APA FILM FESTIVAL), was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards and garnered critical acclaim for its perceptive insight into the complex nature of intimate relationships. Eric has received accolades for his ability to provide a multidimensional context for the audience to draw their own conclusions. His current projects include MY LIFE DISORIENTED, KEALOHA (The Loved One), and TRE, a sequel to CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES. Eric is a biracial Asian American who grew up Hawaii and California, but has close ties to Northern Virginia.

Official selection at the 2006 South by Southwest Film Festival, Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Cast and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature.

Official Website: http://www.apafilm.org/2006/index.php