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Logline: After her uncle is killed by a stray bullet, Director So Yun Um embarks on a deeply personal journey to learn more about where Asian Americans stand on gun ownership and violence--confronting grief, fear, and the rising belief that owning a gun is the only way to stay safe.
AMERICANA BANG BANG has been supported by Catapult Film Fund and Firelight Media.
Director’s Statement
Gun violence has always been part of my life and my family. Whether it’s my uncle getting shot outside of his shop or my mom getting held up at gunpoint while working at our liquor store. But when I found out that my youngest uncle was killed by a stray bullet, something within me ached and yearned for justice in a way I didn’t expect.
It made me think of the Asian American women whose lives were lost during the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings while also working. The thought of making a documentary about guns terrifies me. But the thought of the loss of life to guns is one that continues to consume me and cause me grief. It’s this grief that makes me want to understand where Asian Americans fit in this gun-crazy world where we are not protected yet continuously targeted in the media and real life. In the midst of rising anti-Asian violence and women’s rights being stripped away, Asian Americans are turning to gun ownership to get a sense of control and safety in their lives. But with the increasing risks of more gun violence, is it possible to create a safer world without resorting to gun ownership?
“With the rise of Anti-Asian hate, “Nearly 30% of gun retailers said they had more Asian American customers in 2021 compared with the previous year,” ”
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