Asian Gangs at TIFF

Hello, Everyone!

Remember when I wrote about the film Asian Gangs (here), well one of the directors (Lewis Bennett) contacted me about previewing the film and possibly posting a review on my blog.  I of course said yes -- excited to preview the documentary, a little nervous about writing a review that does it justice and makes you want to go see it.

Based on the write up on the TIFF website and the other short films I had watched by Lewis Bennett, I expected Asian Gangs to be hilarious and it certainly did not disappoint.

At the start of the film Bennett learns from his mother that in 1994, while in Grade 5, he got into a fight with an older kid in his school.  The principal told his mother that if Bennett (pictured below) didn't change his ways then he'd end up in an asian gang.

To try to figure out why his principal would make such a remark, Lewis sets out on a mission and conducts a series of interviews with his mother, friends, local law enforcement, and his nemesis from grade school.  He even returns to the scene of the crime, the school soccer field, with his nemesis to try to understand what went down that fateful day in 1994.  Hilarious reenactment of the schoolyard fight ensues.

This documentary is funny but it also cleverly addresses the issue of violence and gang activity amongst youth in Vancouver.  It seems absurd that Lewis Bennett would end up in a gang in grade 5 but in a very touching interview with a Gang Outreach Worker we learn that it's a very real possibility for children in that area to turn to gang lifestyle as young as 8 or 9 years old.

Asian Gangs made me laugh, it made me think, and it made me want to write a review that convinces you to go see it.

(I also really appreciated the music which is by the Langley Ukulele Ensemble)

Written and directed by Lewis Bennett and Calum MacLeod, Asian Gangs will be shown as part of Programme #2 of Short Cuts Canada.  You can see the film at 6:15PM on Saturday September 8th at the TIFF Bell Lightbox #4 OR 9:00AM on Sunday September 9th at the TIFF Lightbox #3.

Well it's time for me to head to bed.  I'll be waking up in a few hours, 3AM or 4AM, so that I can head over to the TIFF lineup.  I'm pretty excited, hopefully I'll be able to fall asleep to catch a few hours of shut eye before getting up.  I'm also hoping that I don't end up too far back in the lineup -- I know that some people have been waiting in line since 12 this afternoon -- now those are some hardcore movie fans!

I'm sure that I'll be tweeting about my TIFF lineup experience, so you can check my twitter account here.

Wish me luck!

Alex & Arthur