Movie

A-Town Boyz

20231h 12m

Documentary

This edgy documentary is an illuminating time capsule of the immigrant struggle juxtaposed with cultural trends and socio-economic needs. With unprecedented access, the filmmakers follows the journey of gang leader Eugene Chung, aspiring hip hop artists Harrison "Vickz" Kim and Jamy "Bizzy" Long as they navigate their destiny in the margins of society to find their dreams. Above all, A-Town Boyz gives a vérité look at the vulnerability of immigrant families in America. It unveils the quiet suffering and untold hardships of a growing number who live beneath the poverty line. Unlike the mainstream media's portrayal of Asian Americans as the "model minority," many Asians like them are bullied in school and neglected by immigrant parents who struggle to make ends meet. As a result, their children face social, cultural and linguistic barriers that make assimilation difficult. Caught between two cultures, they often feel alienated and turn to gangs for kinship, material gain and identity. Filmed over ten years, A-Town Boyz demonstrates the true story behind the "model minority" myth and what it means to be American.

Directed by:

Eunice Lau