Genre
Synopsis
In 1995, Seoul lives Ha-Eun, a 10-year-old violin prodigy, Ji-Hoon, her rebellious teen brother, and Myung-Hee, their hardened mom. Ha-Eun idolizes her dad from whom she inherited her musical gifts, and transports herself to fantastical daydreams to perform with him. She believes an illness has ruined his once-thriving career. In reality, her family shields her from his consuming alcoholism and abusive nature, which Ji-Hoon receives the brunt of.
When Myung-Hee and her children are selected for the U.S. visa lottery, she and Ji-Hoon seize the much-needed escape from their abuser. Ha-Eun tearfully leave her dad behind, grasping onto his promise that he will come to America if she performs her first solo.
The family arrives in Maryland to live with Myung-Hee’s brother and family. Ha-Eun successfully joins a prestigious youth orchestra while Ji-Hoon befriends his cousin’s Korean-American friends, including Sofie, his dream girl. To fit in, Ji-Hoon wavers on his steadfast rule to never drink, stemming from his fear of becoming his dad. Myung-hee works at a Korean nail salon after learning that a two-year recertification is required to continue her work as a nurse in the States.
Hoping to bring her dad to America, Ha-Eun pursues the solo at her orchestra, escaping to her fantasies to reunited with him for guidance. Meanwhile, Myung-Hee learns that the cosmetology license at the nail salon is counterfeit to explote the illegal workers. She is no closer to building a better life for her family. Ji-Hoon secretly spirals into alcoholism and a pregnancy scare with Sofie turns into a violent fight with her overprotective brother. This triggers repressed anger from years of abuse and Ji-Hoon lashes out at Ha-Eun, revealing their dad’s abusive nature. She finally realizes they will never reunite and quits the orchestra
With the family in pieces, Myung-Hee helps Ha-Eun realize her dreams beyond her dad. They finally acknowledge their trauma and Ji-Hoon reconciles with his sister. Months later, Myung-Hee is a humble housekeeper and they find a worn-out apartment to call home.
Bio
Born in Madrid, and raised in Maryland, Christina YR Lim is a Korean–American writer/director who explores Asian diasporas through fish-out-of-water, genre-bending stories. Lim began in theatre before turning to film, earning her MFA in directing and screenwriting from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
As a writer, Lim won SeriesFest's Women’s Writing Competition garnering her a development deal with Kyra Sedgwick's Big Swing Productions. Her feature script, GYOPO was a semifinalist for the Academy Nicholl's Fellowship and was selected for the 2022-23 Black List x Women in Film Feature Residency. It was recently selected for Wscripted's Cannes Screenplay List (2024) where it was presented at the Producers’ Network at Cannes. Her latest script, ICON was selected for EAVE's Ties That Bind, participating in TCCF in Taipei and the Far East Film Market in Udine, Italy. It was also a selection of Cine Qua Non's Storylines lab and Stowe x Sidewalk’s Story Lab.
Lim's films have been screened and awarded at multiple film festivals including Bentonville, RiverRun, Cinequest, LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, Catalina Film Festival, and CAAMFest. She co-directed SAMIR, a feature film, funded and distributed by Warner Bros., which premiered at Heartland Int. Film Festival. She has also directed films in Shanghai and Beijing and is an alumnus of Yale’s directing lab and Reykjavík International Film Festival’s Talent Lab.
Lim's first feature film as an auteur, B-SIDE: FOR TAYLOR was distributed by Buffalo 8 and EST Studios and released in May 2024. Most recently, she filmed a proof-of-concept for her second feature, GYOPO as a recipient of The Black List x GM incubator fund and Panavision’s New Filmmaker Grant. Objectively Good Media is producing the feature film set for production in the fall of 2025.
Awards History
Wscripted 2024 - Cannes Screenplay List
The Black List x WIF Feature Residency
The Black List x GM Incubator fund
The Academy Nicholl Fellowship - semifinalist
Panavision's Newfilmmaker Camera Grant
Credits
Executive Producer - Matthew R Cooper
Executive Producer - Anna Dragoo
Producer - Kimberly Hwang
Cinematographer - Ed Wu
Editor - Mengyao Mia Zhang
