Thursday, April 27, 2017

Justin Chon's 'Gook' Trailer

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the LA Riots, many films, documentaries, and think pieces have been popping up but it's Justin Chon's film, Gook, that I have my eye on. The topic of the LA Riots is always a touchy one for many Korean and Black Americans alike but I'm glad that Chon made a film that involved both parties especially when the divide between Korean business owners and the Black community has persisted for many decades.

Gook follows Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers who own a struggling shoe store and has an unlikely friendship with Kamilla, a street wise 11-year old African American girl. When the Rodney King verdict was announce, riots broke out in South Central Los Angeles and with chaos moving towards them, the trio is forced to defend the store while contemplating the future of their own personal dreams and the true meaning of family. The film won the Audience Award at Sundance and it's having its LA premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival this Saturday, aptly on the anniversary of the LA Riots. All I can say as a daughter of a Liquor Store owner, that watching this teaser was an emotional rollercoaster so get ready because it's going to be a riot.