This quiet gem marks the directorial debut of Michael Kang, and was produced by Miguel Arteta (THE GOOD GIRL, CHUCK AND BUCK). Thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin (Jeffrey Chyau) is the first-generation son in a family of Chinese immigrants; he lives in a sleazy motel run by his hardworking, dour mother (Jade Wu) who discourages his interests in writing and girls. She believes that Ernest needs to appreciate what he has at home, and give up his dreams that threaten nothing but heartache--the viewer infers that this is what became of her own dreams. When a brash, hard-drinking, womanizing young Korean man named Sam (Sung Kang) moves into the motel, Ernest forms an unlikely bond with him, as each finds in the other something he desperately needs. Sam seeks out the fatherless boy, sensing a need for guidance and companionship that mirrors his own.
The simple, awkward dialogue of the film is managed winningly by novice actor Chyau, who was recruited from the Bronx High School of Science to play the part of Ernest. The performances by supporting actor Kang, as well as Samantha Futerman, who plays Ernest’s precocious love interest, are equally powerful. With beautiful photography and a slow, seductive pace, the film delivers a message about finding beauty in unlikely places, as well as the courage to follow one’s dreams.
