adultolescence

EDUCATION MARKET

The crucial issues raised in “Adultolescence” make the film a great candidate for the educational market. “Adultolescence” not only presents an American family rarely seen in film, addressing political and social issues, but creates a cinematic forum for discussion that reads as provocative and new. Through a personal narrative, “Adultolescence” brings to audiences a story of an underrepresented minority group in an entertaining way, exploring the culturally-specific worlds of an immigrant mother and her American-born daughter relationship. Both parent and child belief structures’ collide, but both are justified in their world views. The film closes with the evolving face of a family’s relationship rather than a traditional, narrative ending, presenting questions for students to raise or answer.

“Adultolescence” is not simply a commentary on the moral, polemic issues of identity politics but a story that humanizes the immigrant story. The narrative does more than portray first-generation children as victims in a world in which they lead double lives of split heritage, while their parents refuse to accept them. A deeper tragedy exists in that the parents have sacrificed personal desires to secure their children’s future, yet their American-born children are virtually strangers to them. Another side of this dilemma is presented: how do first-generation Americans reconcile fulfilling parental expectations and going after their own dreams? “Adultolescence” optimistically explores if there is reconciliation between fundamental cultural differences.

“Adultolescence” also stimulates discussion about the definition of “model minority,” what role this definition plays, and how mainstream views function as a whole with all minority groups in American society. “Adultolescence” explores why economic status alone does not result in stability, leadership, empowerment, and community, nor does it allow for certain freedoms and inclusion. This reverberates as well into dialogue about how business and culture affects the definition of livelihood, relationships, and family as well. The thematic narrative of “Adultolescence” is concerned with our consciousness, with the connection between individual and family/society, not distancing us from those around us. Just as the Lea films with her camera, it is more important why she films and not what she films.

Most importantly, “Adultolescence” is a universal film with universal themes. This allows for discussion beyond Asian-American film studies. Here are some examples of further themes as candidates for discussion...

Theme: "success" and its definition. Lea's mother's definition: "Not successful doesn't mean failure." What would it mean to succeed for Lea? Doesn't she really want mainstream and monetary success like her conservative, corporate family?

Theme: maturation. What is really keeping Lea from moving out? Laziness? Economic stability? Fear of being on one's own? A need to gain acceptance and support from her parents? Unsettled inner issues, new and long-subdued? A need to at least gain resolution with her parents by growing to understand them? Something must be resolved with the parents in order for one to move on, move out, and start one's life.

Theme: the debate between the visionary and the pragmatic. Is the artist's way an impotent and unimportant one in this day and age? Is the "movie world" just a silly dream world, or does it have some bearing on the truth? What is the "movie world" on a factual basis. Is it just a business? How does business and culture affect a person's livelihood and relationship with herself, family, and the society as a whole.

*For inquiries about purchasing an education DVD and a teacher’s guide for your university or classroom, please contact adl_themovie@yahoo.com.