“I’ve decided. I will never let you go”
From the director’s statement: This is my final project and I am the writer, director, producer and editor. The film is inspired by my own journey and the experiences of the people around me. I was born and raised in China and came to the US three years ago during the pandemic, where I faced many unexpected challenges. Two years ago, I met a Chinese-American teenage girl from an undocumented family in Manhattan’s Chinatown. She had been translating for her family since she was nine years old and when something bad happened, they couldn’t ask the authorities for help because of their status. Her courage and resilience touched me deeply.
The film begins in the US immigration office, where an elderly Chinese woman is speaking angrily into her phone because the person who was supposed to accompany her there has not yet shown up. She appears a moment later, however, and the two make it into the office where the older woman is supposed to give a statement about her application for a green card. She has even brought some doughnuts as a gift, in a rather Chinese way of dealing with authorities, but she is blatantly rejected by the completely disillusioned employee, who immediately continues the procedure. However, it turns out that the older of the two, who are actually mother and daughter, speak very little English, which immediately turns the conversation tragicomic.
The next scene, however, shows a family party with the two women and a number of guests celebrating the fact that she did indeed receive the green card. It turns out that the daughter is named Lulu, and she has brought an American boyfriend, David. Her aunt immediately asks if he is her boyfriend, and asks a number of other questions, while her mother is obviously tense about his presence. The rest of the discussions shed light on the two’s relationship, with Lulu always tasked with taking care of her mother in all aspects of life in the US, while she fulfills her dream of having a daughter who will become a doctor. Things are not quite as they seem in the beginning, however, and as the alcohol flows, some things come to the fore.
Perhaps the best thing about the 15-minute short is the way Ziyu Luo blends the dramatic foundation of the story with a number of funny moments without robbing the film of its seriousness or the commentary of its impact. The ever-present concept of parents pressuring their children to pursue their own dreams rather than what they want to do with their lives, which seems to be even more intense in Chinese/Chinese-American families, is portrayed quite eloquently here, with the way Ziyu Luo uses it to build drama and tension being one of the film’s best aspects. The fact that breaking the chain, even when love is involved, is the only solution comes across here in a more realistic aspect as another commentary. In this regard, it’s also impressive that the director doesn’t take sides, emphasizing that both have their “excuses” for their behavior.
Borja Campillo’s camerawork is also of a high standard. He portrays the film’s three locations artfully and realistically. The scene where the camera pans over the dinner party members is definitely the highlight of his work. The many close-ups are a bit over the top, but not so much that they harm the quality of the images, which is quite high. Ziyu Luo’s editing results in a fast pace that allows the story to unfold comfortably over the course of the film.
The acting is impressive at times. Yan Cui in particular is a wonder as the mother, and the way she communicates her thoughts and feelings either subtly through looks and facial expressions or more obviously through her voice is a real treat for the viewer. Jessica Lee is also quite good as the daughter, and their direct interactions also highlight their excellent chemistry.
“American Dream” is a high quality short film that presents its commentary eloquently and entertainingly, while also being well directed, filmed and acted.
