give me a BLT

Better Luck Tomorrow is a groundbreaking film by Justin Link that was released in the cinemas after receiving backing from MTV (Music Television). It is one of the few movies to feature an all Asian main cast and specifically addresses some of the social and cultural issues faced by Asian and Pacific Islander young people. This film is different from other movies with an Asian star, because it does not border on any of the traditional roles of martial arts or action genres typified by actors, such as Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, and Jet Li.

Why should people see this movie?

It tackles the model minority myth head on by showing how Asian students react to the social pressures of academic success and suburban mediocrity. In taking a very in-your-face attitude about sex, drugs, and success, it shows that Asians and Pacific can be more than what Hollywood has typecast previous actors as.

Although there are limitations to what this movie can discuss, it does help to open door for future directors and actors to produce films that do not place Asian or Pacific Islander issues as a forethought or afterthought. Even if you don't like the film, it should not be banished from your mind about potential discussions on the issues presented. For the talented directors who may not agree with Lin's perspective, then a challenge would be creating more films that provide a counter-perspectives. A dialogue has been initiated by the creation of this film and it should continue to be discussed in detail, particularly by young people.

1 | 2 |  3 |  4