The director Jessica Liu, a filmmaker whose work has garnered recognition at several Oscar-qualifying festivals, has assembled a striking cast for her feature debut. Her film, a dark comedy titled Better Life, will star Randall Park, Ming-Na Wen, Joel Kim Booster, and Margaret Cho. Also appearing are Anirudh Pisharody and Yao.
The project is based on a short of the same name by Liu. It is described as a film that mixes “dark satire and grounded sci-fi elements in an AAPI-centered story about ambition, family, and identity.”
The American Dream, Reimagined
The film’s premise is rooted in a contemporary anxiety. When a new medical procedure promises to turn slackers into overachievers, an aging father sees it as his final opportunity to realize the American Dream. The twist, however, is that he seeks to achieve this not for himself, but “through his unemployed adult daughter.”
Liu, who grew up straddling two cultures in Shanghai and the Bay Area, based the film on her own experiences with her immigrant father. She developed the feature under the mentorship of Randall Park, whom she met through the Alliance of Women Directors.
The film is being produced by Annie Huang and Samantha Gao. It is one of the rare projects to be shot in Los Angeles, taking advantage of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program. Production is scheduled to begin in September.
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Randall Park, known for his performances in Always Be My Maybe, and Ming-Na Wen, a veteran of The Mandalorian, lead the cast. They are joined by the comedians Joel Kim Booster and Margaret Cho, who both appeared in Fire Island. Anirudh Pisharody, from Never Have I Ever, and Yao, from Sinners, also appear in the ensemble
Liu’s film promises a poignant and satirical look at the pressures of filial piety and success within the context of the Asian American experience, filtered through the unexpected lens of science fiction. The film’s ensemble of talents, many of whom are well-versed in both comedy and drama, suggests a nuanced exploration of its themes.
Feature Image: Dominick D
