East Bay

This deeply original comedy asks what it means to be obsessed with success. A group of thirty and forty somethings strive and fail at art and life; they long for love (or just to win a pick-up hockey game). From an unexpectedly insecure self-help guru to a dating profile for a "bitter middle-aged guy" who looks suspiciously like the Dalai Lama, Danny Yoon hilariously critiques the belief that success is everything. The tightly written script combines pathos with crack comic timing and some surreal effects, and there's a delirious build-up of emotion as the characters stumble towards enlightenment, or at least acceptance of who they are.

On my gods, this was a phenomenal film. GREAT actors, of course, but it's been a WHILE since a film has stuck to me like this. In every conversation I've had this week, I've mentioned the film.

If you have these questions - what the hell we're doing here? What are we supposed to do with our lives? Why does the world feel nutty? It's a masterfully woven & edited film that feels complex, but lands on simplicity; taking on existentialism & the burden of being happy with LOVE being the antidote to cynicism.

Def a must see for every child of immigrants. These writers/filmmakers did some serious magic. Funny & Deep.

East bay is a funny, quirky, and heartwarming film that explores people's relationships with friends, family, and above all themselves through the eyes of a struggling film maker. When Jack (39) looses the few things in life that make him truly happy, he is forced to question his purpose in life. He feels like he is just a good for nothing, haggard Middle aged man. The story weaves in between reality and surrealism. By the end of the story, each person unravels and their flaws and true character are exposed. Every main character in the movie has a uniquely different personality and each actor did a great job balancing what is real, what is thought, and what is just for the camera.

Saw this at the Angelika in NYC. Didn't know what to expect aside from Constance Wu (who's awesome) as the star. I was completely taken by the irreverent and intelligent humor, raw and honest dialogue, and interesting characters. It was part contemplation on the big questions in life, the pressures to be successful and happy that Asian American immigrants face, and a showcase of non-stereotypical Asian American roles. Despite the film being very focused on the Asian immigrant experience, I found it very relatable because the themes and humor transcend lots of different categories.

After the film ended, the director/writer/lead actor Daniel Yoon and two actors (Kavi and Sam) gave a talk and answered questions for about an hour. That was equally interesting and fun to hear about the creative process and the work that went into it. Daniel mentioned that principle photography took place way back in 2010, because Constance Wu became famous for Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat. So you see her in excellent form in this little indie film before stardom, which is really cool. The other leads (Kavi, Sam, Daniel) also gave phenomenal performances. I can't wait to see the next film by this guy.

East Bay feels like an epic film. Although made on a minuscule budget, there is non-stop action in the journey taken by the main character, Jack Lee, as he tries and "fails" to honour the sacrifice of his ancestors and immigrant parents. And also seeks the answers to meaning of life, along with a cast of fascinating and different characters. You see his stumbles in career, relationships, and film projects, and also hear his thoughts and experiernce his fantasies. This is a film jam-packed with humor, emotion, philosophy, feeling and also charm. It's filmed in some beautiful settings and set to an equally rich soundtrack. On top of that there are hockey scenes which serve to further illuminate the characters and how they relate to each other, in a way that I've never seen before. It's brilliant!

I've watched this a couple times at its theatrical launch in Toronto, and each time I get more of an appreciation for the fine writing and construction of this intricate film, of how all of its many elements fit together, as also for the performances of the main characters. Constance Wu in particular gives a wide-ranging yet subtle performance, beautifully done.

It's hard to believe this is an independent film that was self-financed. Although the fact that it took more than 10 years to complete (as explained in the Q&A after the launch) does partly explain the richness of the editing.

To be sure, this is not a film for the casual goer, but for those seeking something beyond classification that Hollywood can't or won't produce, devoid of all cliches, they will be richly rewarded.