NO TRAILER CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
First, the Recap:
A decimation of the species. Not, we at least hope, something any of us would really wish to see occur to ANY form of life on this planet we inhabit, or at least at minimum when it comes to the animal kingdom and all the wondrous examples of beauty in life we witness through it. Sadly, it has continued to be the case for so long that certain members of said natural empire have been wiped out or died out forever, to the disheartenment of those who appreciated them. BUT, what if it was one of the most common creatures we more than recognize–goldfish–that were suddenly, inexplicably gone? Would anyone stand firm for their contributions to the world? This becomes the focus for a documentary film crew and their point of inquiry when interviewing Richard Chen (Dennis Dun), the caretaker of the LAST remaining goldfish on Earth. This IS his story, his passion, his all in all–and it is NO fish tale.
Next, my Mind:
Mockumentary filmmaking style and accompanying wit comes into beautifully executed contact with the realities of ruination for natural, social, and foundationally human entities, what we might choose to leave behind as a lasting legacy, and the simple striving towards better efforts to improve the world rather than damage it, all fully encompassed through this 15-minute indie short film arriving from writer/director Kelly Yu, producer Po Wei Su, and executive producers Constanza Castro, Domenica Castro, Naomi Funabashi, Travis Ing, Rishi Rajani, and Lena Waithe. A third entry created via the truly sensational platform that is Indeed‘s “Rising Voices” initiative, the effort will have its upcoming screening as an official selection for the 20th Anniversary HollyShorts Film Festival running August 8th-18th at the renowned TCL Chinese Theater, Los Angeles, and folks, you are in for the absolute fun yet wholly pertinent statements this project has to convey with tongue firmly in cheek while presenting truths we should heed in how we view this stormy actuality we call life, its fragility, and in many things, it’s temporary existence if nothing is changed.
Hitting you with what this critic felt was an immediately scathing but purposefully satirical stab at how we in America even react to foreign things being “invasive” and hence should be allowed to “perish” so our precious U.S. dollar won’t be wasted on imported goods, the narrative that sees a documentary film crew interview an older man who is now caring for the world’s LAST goldfish has the most wonderfully effective pacing and visual delivery to make the highest impact on you while allowing for utterly immersive (even informative!) entertainment and laughs throughout. It’s this intentionality to poke fun at certain aspects we face as humanity, a nation, and as the world at large that makes this exploration of an origin of species, how things then suddenly went extinct, and the notion of those who wish to preserve any remaining examples of an endangered species gets wrapped within an underlying context of socio-political elucidation that MAKES PERFECT SENSE and it actually ADDS to the grander humor of what we witness thanks TO the film’s documentary methodology paired with excellent writing and overall direction to make its points clear.
We are once more hit with a menagerie of thematic forays here from start to finish, which cover the subtle to the impactful to the hilarious as the narrative showcases concepts associated with diaspora/immigration, stress, inflation and other economic factors, the stock market, racism, hospice care, the coldness of scientific research even when trying to find solutions for human issues, judgement of worth based only on the surface, our search for acknowledgement, purpose, and importance, imprinting, how said pursuits get upended and we’re forced to adapt to survive, learning, growing, meditation, experiencing a cultural curve, being remembered, traditions, caring for an “ABG” (watch the film!), seeing the “rules” of the world and the often undue “expectations” it tries to place on us or things around us, and a plethora of other topics are all present or otherwise implied through the drama and mirth here–and all under the core focus on a FISH! Brilliant. Just brilliant. How all of this meshes together makes the film’s finale one that not only holds compelling meaning, but is also quite touching in its connotations about what we DO leave behind.
It is a complete pleasure to witness Den appear on screen again, as this critic was recalling him back in the glory days of efforts he appeared in like “Year of the Dragon”, “Big Trouble In Little China”, “The Last Emperor”, and Prince of Darkness”, and the actor assuredly channels more along the lines of Wang Chi from the second film listed above for his role here as Richard, a now-older Chinese man who’s become the voluntary caretaker of the world’s only remaining goldfish, which he’s named Pao Pao. As the documentary crew fires away with their questions pertaining to this rather eccentric endeavor, Richard gleefully engages and captivates them with the tale of his journey to preserve the remnant of a once-prolific species while expounding on all the factors he believes contributed to the demise of the household pet, covering everything in good order as the fate of Pao Pao and her kind is discussed. The enchanting, reflective, focused, and fully jovial atmosphere Den creates for his character and the interactions with and about Pao Pao is believable, endearing, evocative, playful, yet heartbreakingly persuasive thanks to the actor’s skills here.
The primary supporting role arrives from Ava Capri as Bat, a goldfish Ichthyologist who’s interviewed about her perspective on the now (almost) nonexistent Cyprinidae and the only value Pao Pao represents in her professional opinion. Additional supporting appearances are made by Elaine Rivkin as the hospice facility’s receptionist, Kiff VandenHeuvel and Andrea Lee Davis as news anchors, Mike Bash as Graham Jordan, along with Estefany Fuentes, Jeffery Welk, Nathyn Boyd, William Kernodle, Tyler Summers, Becca Suh-Heenan, Elizabeth Lamboy-Wilson, Jesus Lloveras Mora, Tasha Gentile, Joseph Barton, Ben Kuller, Po Wei Su, Alex Bologna, and Estevan Falcon. So, in total, “Endling” is a calculatingly clever, artistically imaginative, whimsically sharp, irrefutably absorbing film that, with both its comedic foundation and underlying dramatic vision, paints a picture that reverberates with realities we honestly might be facing while putting a human viewpoint to it that reminds us of our need for FAR better management of what we have, the significance of ALL life, its preservation if possible, and the raw truths of our own mortality.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
