Helming this project are two professors from San Francisco State
University's Asian American Studies department, Valerie Soe (director,
editor, co-writer, co-producer) and Russell Jeung (co-writer,
co-producer). [Full disclosure: I am on the volunteer publicity team for
The Oak Park Story]
The film recounts the struggles of three very different families (Cambodian, Mexican, and white American) who find themselves together in a run-down apartment complex in Oakland, CA. Together, these three households encountered drug dealing, gang violence and prostitution right in their parking lot. Yet their worst problem was their Stanford-educated landlord, who raised rents even when El Nino rains flooded their units. Facing unsanitary housing conditions that led to the hospitalization of several children, 44 households of Oak Park banded together to sue and eventually won a landmark settlement, against their landlord. Despite the victory, this too brought about some surprising, unintended consequences.
The soundtrack features the film's composer Camilo Landau of Oakland's Carne Cruda, Cambodian American rapper Prach, and
Goh Nakamura.
One reason I'm particularly excited about this project is because it provides insight into groups of people who are seemingly different due to ethnicity or race but united in a social justice struggle that helps them form a community. Furthermore, I'm looking forward to hearing the voices of underrepresented Asian Americans as well as seeing Asian Americans unite with other groups for a cause, which prevalent stereotypes ["Those Asians are so insular!!"] have deemed a rarity.
See? Film can have a purpose! Imagine that.
Screening Info
Where: Sundance Kabuki Cinema, 1881 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
When: March 14, 2010 at 2:00 pm and March 15, 2010 at 7:00 pm
The Oak Park Story will screen alongside Curtis Choy's Al Robles documentary Manilatown is in the Heart at SFIAAFF.
Comments