An illegal Chinese immigrant falls behind on payments on an enormous smuggling debt. Ming Ding has only until the end of the day to come up with the money.
Direction
Baker/Tsou capture real Chinese restaurant culture with documentary precision.
Acting
Charles Jang's silent exhaustion says more than dialogue ever could.
Production
Actual NYC restaurants, actual workers, actual desperation.
Director
Shih-Ching Tsou
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot on a Sony HDV camera with a $3,000 budget over 18 days, using real restaurant workers as cast.
This was Sean Baker's breakthrough before Tangerine and The Florida Project, establishing his signature focus on marginalized Americans invisible to Hollywood.
US
