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In this collection of short documentaries and narratives a variety of films come together in their shared use of food to explore the nuances of Asian American experiences. Questions of identity, grief, and diaspora are brought to light through recipes and shared meals.
This screening features 8 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
A dinner date spirals into a deadly duel as a Korean and a Korean-American clash over who pays the bill—and who keeps their honor.
Director Biography – Shane Chung
Shane Chung is a Chicago-based filmmaker obsessed with storytelling in all its forms. As a Korean-American working in film, he champions diversity, equity, and wackiness in the film industry and enjoys pushing the boundaries of what a genre film can be about.
Director Statement
CHECK PLEASE is heavily influenced by schlocky, zany, stunt-filled action comedy and martial arts films (Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow) because first and foremost I wanted to make a crowdpleaser. I think the best movies are like magic tricks in that you walk away after seeing them asking “how did they do that?!”
And yet I also wanted to use the "fun" of the action genre to trick the audience into sitting with a movie that secretly talks about a deeper theme: multiculturality. I address a few questions about belonging and representation based on my own feelings of being a Korean-American: what is “Koreanness”? Is it innate? Can you gain or lose it? (For example, Jay attempts to reclaim his perceived “loss in Koreanness” by attaching himself to superficial cultural Korean rituals, like picking up the bill.) And is there such thing as a “bad Korean” on screen? I wanted to portray Asian Americans in film that go beyond a tired immigrant storyline or a discrimination storyline – that internal struggle being too Korean for America, but being too American for Korea. I feel this is a resonant theme for many, and that this film can help them feel that they aren't alone!
In this collection of short documentaries and narratives a variety of films come together in their shared use of food to explore the nuances of Asian American experiences. Questions of identity, grief, and diaspora are brought to light through recipes and shared meals.
This screening features 8 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
A dinner date spirals into a deadly duel as a Korean and a Korean-American clash over who pays the bill—and who keeps their honor.
Director Biography – Shane Chung
Shane Chung is a Chicago-based filmmaker obsessed with storytelling in all its forms. As a Korean-American working in film, he champions diversity, equity, and wackiness in the film industry and enjoys pushing the boundaries of what a genre film can be about.
Director Statement
CHECK PLEASE is heavily influenced by schlocky, zany, stunt-filled action comedy and martial arts films (Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow) because first and foremost I wanted to make a crowdpleaser. I think the best movies are like magic tricks in that you walk away after seeing them asking “how did they do that?!”
And yet I also wanted to use the "fun" of the action genre to trick the audience into sitting with a movie that secretly talks about a deeper theme: multiculturality. I address a few questions about belonging and representation based on my own feelings of being a Korean-American: what is “Koreanness”? Is it innate? Can you gain or lose it? (For example, Jay attempts to reclaim his perceived “loss in Koreanness” by attaching himself to superficial cultural Korean rituals, like picking up the bill.) And is there such thing as a “bad Korean” on screen? I wanted to portray Asian Americans in film that go beyond a tired immigrant storyline or a discrimination storyline – that internal struggle being too Korean for America, but being too American for Korea. I feel this is a resonant theme for many, and that this film can help them feel that they aren't alone!
