This feature documentary by Sundance award-winning director Julia Kwan captures the subtle nuances of a culturally diverse neighbourhood—Vancouver’s once-thriving Chinatown—in the midst of a transformation that plays out across many ethnic enclaves in North America. The community’s oldest and newest members offer their intimate perspectives on the shifting landscape as they reflect on change, memory and legacy. Night and day, a neon sign that reads “EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT” looms over Chinatown. Everything is going to be alright. The big question is—for whom?
The movie is available for rent here
Interview with director Julia Kwan by Melissa Fong, (September 2014)
What was the inspiration for your film?
When this film was originally conceived, I wanted to do a comparison of this Chinatown with the satellite Chinatown of Richmond. The original idea was to contrast and compare. But then I was drawn to Vancouver’s Chinatown because I had such a strong emotional connection to it. I really gravitated towards this community because there is such a sense of history and community. I wanted to explore that.
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