Runtime: 13min 00sec
On the surface level, this short documentary addresses how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a Szechuan restaurant’s business and growth, but throughout the film, an underlying discussion of COVID-19’s impact on the pursuit of the elusive and ever-changing “American Dream” emerged.
Restaurant work is common among Asian immigrants. The drive to create a better life is a common sentiment among recent Asian immigrants. This documentary depicts the story of not just the Hu family, but many Asian families across the globe: leaving home in search of a better life, not prosperity for oneself (as the typical American Dream suggests) but rather prosperity for their children. The fervent drive toward their dream is alive, even in the face of a pandemic.
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DC APA Film Festival - Official Selection (2021)
Wesley C. Hogan Best Documentary Film (2021)
Kristina Troost Award for Best Undergraduate Project in East Asian Studies (2021)
Kenan Institute of Ethics - What is Good Art? - Runner-up (2021)
The Dream That Wasn’t 《亦梦非梦》
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our reality, but how has it affected our dreams? The Dream That Wasn't tells the story about an immigrant couple working to support themselves and their restaurant, but most importantly, to achieve their dream.
新冠病毒的疫情完全改变了我们的现实生活，但是疫情如何影响到我们的梦想？《亦梦非梦》讲一对移民夫妻的故事。他们如何互相支持与经营餐馆，如何实现梦想。