Short Film Review “Essentially Amy” Once more, COVID-19 is the backdrop for a tale of hate, hope, and being proud of who you are
WATCH THE FILM BELOW:
First, the Recap:
The faces of discrimination, fear, and confronting the uncertainty of what the future holds. These are but some (or all) aspects of past and present life that, sadly, are encountered FAR too often. In the myriad of forms these elements can come about, to handle any of it with a modicum of composure and grace is hard enough, much less when the outcome is never assured or known. Yet, IN these instances where we have no choice BUT to take it on, will we find the fortitude to do it right, thinking of not only ourselves, but others as well?
For Chinese-American Amy (Stacy Pan Chu), the stresses of simply attempting to find her OWN path is hard enough, even as she works hard at a grocery store job while the country is in the throes of COVID-19…and the building unrest it has engendered. With evident racism against Asian Americans showing its countenance more and more while also dealing with weighty parental expectations and another atmosphere of bigotry at home, Amy’s desire to just be who SHE wants to be, for herself AND others, reaches critical mass. Can she make it through?
Next, my Mind:
As I know I’ve assuredly mentioned multiple times over the years during, and more so following, 2020, the indie film community has been especially active in depicting the events this world ensured while in the grip of the global pandemic that was COVID-19. As such, the equally conspicuous myriad of approaches to it were showcased as well, offering personal, national, and worldwide perspectives through the stories being conveyed to us. I know I for one have chosen to state that these are stories we should NEVER dismiss or grow tired of, if anything for the sheer fact that the ripple affect COVID-19 had on this planet, and on each of us as individuals, is important to remember and learn from. Hence, this is why the 15-minute short film project from writer/director/producer Ari Groobman, producers Benjamin O’Keefe, Ryan Ramsey, and Mitchell Schwartz, executive producers Adam Wescott, Nick Phillips, and McKenna Marshall, plus coordinating producer Selena Leoni stands then soars outright as a potent exploration and viewpoint on not JUST the malady, but the consequent air of unrest on multiple fronts that it birthed.
The narrative, which finds a young, hardworking, Chinese-American girl navigating the realities of COVID-19’s impact on small business while also having to encounter the harshness of overt and misguided hate, anger, and racial prejudices both at work and at home, the film utilizes every moment of its short overall runtime to make every possible point about just what a needlessly ingrained, malicious auras of fear and hostility were perpetrated during COVID-19 towards any Asian Americans, who were so wrongly seen as “the cause” of it all. The manner in which this gets portrayed cements the film’s foundational gist in your mind thanks to the compelling, provocative, and steadfast energy the writing and direction manifests, allowing for it to fully sink into your soul with unrestrained power. I don’t state this lightly, either, as the necessity for us as a society here in the U.S. to be reminded of the unfortunate air of indignation, animosity, ethnic barriers we’ve found ourselves creating is one that simply needs to CEASE if we are to truly heal and re-unite as a country.
Additionally, the actualities of how small business suffered so greatly during the pandemic, the visually obsessive lengths we went to in trying to be “protected” from COVID-19 (not ALL bad, mind you. LOGICAL precaution is good vs. media-driven hysteria), erroneous perceptions vs. what is factually true, and the burden of what we try to accomplish for our own betterment against the initial weight of parental expectation all gets addressed here as well. BUT, it isn’t all JUST the unsettled nature of events that is focused on, as there is such a stirring and emotionally strong intent to showcase how all of this strife can ultimately bring us to a place of discerning our REAL support and supporters, that we can LEARN to appreciate that which we have been unduly against, valuing the relationships that buoy us, and even more importantly being able to be PROUD of our heritage, standing up for it even IN the face of utter ignorance. It is all requisite and NEEDED exercises in our basic humanity and what it means to just BE who we ARE, no matter what it takes, while also realizing that assigning blame to the WHOLE is never a good thing when unfounded.
The finale is moving and completely apropos for the nature of the narrative’s course, and it fills us with absolute hope but also a cautionary element as well, and it makes it the style of film this critic truly wishes will become an awareness-raising beacon to this country especially, but also to the world at large, as what we absorb here should spur us towards aiming to BE better people to each other rather than so immediate judgmental or uninformed. Chu excels here at being the stirringly emotive portrait of a young girl in both turmoil and triumph while carrying the strained yet stalwart pursuit of her own dreams, other’s well-being, maintaining a desire to just DO right by everyone, and being a light of beautifully benign equality in the face of abject aversion and inequity through her role as Amy. Striving to do the best she can do, resolve issue at work and at home, but then experiencing an extreme circumstance that tests her convictions, Amy must weather the storms buffeting her and determine the path she wants to keep, even when so many factors are trying to dissuade her from all she aims to achieve.
It’s one of those winning performances that Chu delivers because you wholly BELIEVE her as this character, as the actress enacts the dramatic volatility of her character’s situations with grounded poise and heartening engagement with all Amy is taking on. Ping Liu likewise provides moments of levity and, at least at first, certain degrees of trepidation towards her character through her role here as Amy’s mother, who harbors both an unquestionably doting (perhaps a little TOO much at times! Watch the film!) demeanor for her daughter yet seems to want to overly guide and control her future as well. Adding to this is an apparent, and specific, racially-infused bias towards Blacks that consistently rubs Amy the wrong way, even as she tries to draw her mother’s opinions as such away from those impressions. As Amy stands firm for her own paths, her Mom begins to lean in more to understanding that the support Amy needs, and the love as well, is far more imperative, and the healing that comes about is affecting and true.
Liu brings the character of Amy’s Mom to life so vibrantly yet also with understated vitality, and it suits the character to a “T” while giving us someone we root for and against, but then for undeniably as the film progresses, thanks to the wonderful performance by Liu. Primary supporting turns are first made by Brenda Valencia and Seyi Ayorinde as Amy’s co-workers Mia and Norm, the latter of whom becomes a catalyst of change in Amy’s mother’s life and opinions about Blacks when a simple act of kindness hits home. Hidekun Hah is Mr. Park, the manager/owner of the small grocery store Amy works at whose resistant to her attempts to try and improve things for the store and its remaining employees but may end up with a change in heart himself. Jim Todd very much makes an impression via his turn as a local white man and store customer whose HIGHLY adamant attitude towards wearing masks and Asian Americans is made more than clear, likewise turning into a life-altering motivation for Amy to become the bigger person for others and herself.
Additional turns are made by Heather Truman, Tanner Holley, Dara Emery, Cameron Blackmun, Cassidy Burroughs, Josslyn Glenn, and Ryan Najpauer. So, in total, “Essentially Amy” firmly, candidly, and with utter transparency affirms the existence of truths that we don’t always wish to acknowledge about the state of our disposition towards others while still possessing at its core the heartening encouragement that even through times of seemingly endless struggle and polarized, disparaging manner we treat that which we don’t take the time to understand first, there IS hope and genuine celebration of heritage and belief in a better world out there, which we should ALL embrace, regardless of pandemic, ethnicity, or any other thing that attempts to divide us. All the best to those in this country whose origin is outside it, for your presence here MAKES America the great nation it is, the land of opportunity for EVERYONE to enjoy, chase after, and succeed in. Let’s combat hate. Period.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
