The husband and father of a Korean immigrant family that resides in the States has passed away and the funeral company employees have arrived at their house. Now, the family says its farewell to the deceased, a jumble of English and Korean, which is synonymous to their dual identity and state of confusion. Then, the son suddenly blows his breath on his dead father’s stomach, making a silly noise—a tummy raspberry. His behavior baffles the Western employees waiting right beside them. That raspberry probably was the late father’s display of affection to his child. The memory imprinted in his mind, the son now reenacts his father’s loving act in attempt to let him go. This 8-minute short film bears a kind of emotional resonance that far surpasses its short running time.

2021 Sundance Film Festival
2021 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films (상)

Julian DOAN

Julian Doan is a 2nd generation Vietnamese-American filmmaker. He enjoys exploring the uncomfortable corners of our existence through awkward, yet heartfelt comedy. His latest short film , which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. He loves corgis, the outdoors, and looks forward to seeing a Vietnamese American film renaissance in his lifetime.