Justin Chon Puns

Considering how many toxic stereotypes they stuffed into 'Kate' (it's startling how bad it is), 'Blue Bayou' is basically the complete opposite.

Support this new Focus Features film. Boasting a trailer that received over 3 million views, this is IMO one of the most important movies for AM representation in recent years.

Chon plays Antonio, a Korean adoptee raised in the Louisiana bayou, married to the love of his life (played by Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever known.

Reviews are very solid. The LA premiere was attended by some notable figures like Harry Shum Jr, Manny Jacinto, Awkwafina, Steven Yeun, and Benedict Wong.

Unlike a lot of other movies,

• this one addresses the subject of undocumented Asian immigrants, and the threats of deportation.

• it shows an AMXF relationship front and center

• it's a more seriously made film with an AM protagonist, distributed by a major company

There are many disparagers who don't want this movie to do well. Different types who may have slightly different reasons. On the one hand, for non-Asian racists there's a very real incentive to not cast an asian guy in a romantic light. Hollywood retains a strong bias against Asian males having any role showing their human side, let alone anything sexual.

Then there are those uncle tom chans who either, a) act like a dumb boba liberal and says the movie should have an AM be loyal (translation: be limited) to AF only and not "adulate WF" but then say nothing about 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' or the countless XMAF content, or b) stupidly claim that WMAF and AMWF are both bad and be yet another example of an idiot falling into false equivalent comparisons. As if there’s a ton of AMWF overflowing from Hollywood and spilling out onto the streets.

Wtf? Promoting and normalizing AM as romantic leads and AMWF/AMXF on the big screen is really crucial. AF are going to keep dating out en masse no matter what, AM should exer

The story highlights authentic, real struggles facing people every day. Like one review said, the movie beautifully personalizes a part of the broken immigration system that isn’t talked about nearly as much as others, exposing the plight affecting children adopted from foreign countries, brought to America and then never naturalized by their guardians or adopted parents.

This movie is absolutely terrific for AM representation for more reasons than one. It tells us about a man who isn't a 'crazy rich Asian', but one who just wants to do the best for his family and make up for past mistakes - not a 'bling empire' Asian, but one who has a criminal record, is an adopted immigrant and a tattoo artist.

It's LA premiere was attended by some notable figures including Awkwafina, Benedict Wong, Harry Shum, Jr., and Manny Jacinto.

It is always sad to me when a movie or a show that presents AM in a poor, emasculated way gets more views or success than content that shows them as three-dimensional human beings who aren't walking stereotypes and can be in love.

Got any friends who are movie lovers and might have a taste for indie and 'sophisticated' cinema? Tell them about it. If you have social media, tweet it or insta story it, or whatever.

Congratulations to everyone involved in making this important movie.

Just watched Blue Bayou by Justin Chon and it was amazing, seriously cannot recommend it enough that people, especially asian americans, go see it. Heart-wrenching story, amazing performances by Justin Chon, Alicia Vikander, and newcomer Sydney Kowalske. Everything just felt so real. And I cried several times throughout the movie. Bring some tissues!

I loved how asian americans were so supportive of Shang-Chi and some even groups even bought out entire theaters for it. Would love to see some of that love towards this film as well. Shang-Chi was great in that it celebrated a lot of asian american culture, especially martial arts, and was monumental in being the MCU's first asian american lead. This movie does the opposite in that the movie is more of an American story rather than an Asian American story. It is about an adult adoptee facing deportation after living 30+ years in the country (which btw, is happening today. Couldn't believe that people who came here as children, lived here for 30+ years, are threatened with deportation just because of a clerical error their adopted caretakers made) and it could really be any immigrant/refugee to the country, doesn't have to necessarily be asian.

I think it's important to see both these types of roles in american cinema. One's where asian americans can celebrate their heritage and culture and other's where race takes a back seat and it shows asians are just as american and human as any other.

Please go out and see it! If we want more representation in film then we have to support projects that are written, directed, produced, and lead by asian actors/actresses!

For those not familiar with the story around Adam Crasper, he is a Korean adoptee who came to the US as a child and spend most of his young life surrounded by abuse and violence. His trouble with the law eventually saw him arrested, where he learned that his adoptive parents had never naturalized him as a citizen. As a result, US immigration deported him back to Korea with a 10 year ban from re-entering the US. Keep in mind, Adam had never gone back to Korean in all of those years, never knew the language, and knew no one in the country.

Justin Chon contacted Adam in 2017 about his life story, claiming to have learned about him via a story Vice put together as well as a story from the New York Times. Chon asked if he could use the material from Adam's life for a film project he was working on, but Crasper rejected the request, instead referring him to Daniel Dae Kim, who was also interested in producing a film based on Adam's life.

Fast forward to 2020, where Chon, via his production company, requested permission to use Adam's likeness at the end of his film Blue Bayou, as well as requested photos of him and his parents (who had years earlier been convicted and sentenced for their abuse to him). Again, Crasper declined.

More of the saga can be found here, which details a bit more about what's going on, notably the backlash happening right now in the Korean American adoptee community. While some argue that representation supercedes credit and attribution, others argue that representation at the expense of those being represented constitutes exploitation. For those familiar with Adam's story and who have seen Blue Bayou, the similarities seem to go far beyond coincidence.

http://reappropriate.co/2021/09/adoptees-call-for-boycott-of-blue-bayou/

This new Focus Features film, with a trailer that received over 3 million views, is IMO one of the most important ones for AM representation in recent years.

Chon plays Antonio, a Korean adoptee raised in the Louisiana bayou, married to the love of his life (played by Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever known.

When 'Blue Bayou' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (the most prestigious film festival in the world) in July, the movie was met with a thunderous reception: an electrifying standing ovation from tear-stricken audience members.

Reviews are very solid. The LA premiere was attended by some notable figures like Harry Shum Jr, Manny Jacinto, Awkwafina, Steven Yeun, and Benedict Wong. Today, Simu Liu and Daniel Dae Kim made instagram stories promoting the movie. People have been saying it's Chon's best movie to date.

Are you tired of trash like 'Kate', the recent Netflix movie, that's filled with non-Asians killing hordes of evil AM fodder, and other tropey shit where Asian guys are sexless or emasculated? Then support 'Blue Bayou' and encourage others to watch it, because this movie is of great significance to AM for several reasons.

There are still too many people who think Asians are doing just fine in life. The topic of undocumented Asian immigrants, and the threats of deportation, is criminally under-discussed. The injustices of US immigration laws impacts many Asians.

Justin Chon also said it was natural for the film to have Korean and Vietnamese characters appearing on screen together because that reflects real life - Asian Americans hang out with one another across ethnic groups.

Unlike a lot of media that portrays Asian men as desexualized beings, here is a film showcasing a loving relationship which shows Asian men as humans who are romantically inclined (and not just limited to his own race) like anyone else.

Chon said:

>“I started hearing through the adopted community th

The trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SHFzksWeWc

Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh59H_d19Kg&t=7s

Recently it had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, which is the most important film festival in the world.

Justin Chon plays Antonio LeBlanc, a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou. He's married to Kathy (Alicia Vikander). Struggling to make a better life for his family, he learns that he could be deported from America.

This movie will be released in September 17. Don't miss it!