The short documentary films created by the young filmmakers at Reel Works 2021 Doc Lab continue to prove that when educators make space for student experiences to be shared the more ways we can start approaching students' needs with a tailored set of curricular and school planning. I now have 12 new ways of seeing the world. Imagine the effect a wider spread of productions like these could have on entire student populations, fellow educators, administrators, and parents/caregivers.
The first film of the series, Fuzhou, NYC, told a brief story of the filmmaker Zhi Hui (Michael) Chen’s first-person perspective of his obstacles while integrating American and NYC culture as a young Chinese immigrant. It also spoke of his pride in being Fuzhounese. The film highlights his craving to find Fuzhou connection while in a new country and while trying to live through Anti-Asian hate and bullying in school.
Michael mentions that Fuzhou in Fuzhonese means “Blessed State” and through one of his two interviews in his film, the viewer finds out that Fuzhounese is one of the oldest Chinese dialects. His colleague Joey is one of the interviewees. As a fellow Fuzhonese, she is able to connect with Michael about being bullied while in school, connecting to culture through food, and her attempts to connect with her original family's Fuzhou culture while living as an American. Michael connects his present life with that of Joey’s contemporary immigrant experience and with his grandfather’s past, combing through and threading together conversations of food, education, and family. Images of lucky/ New Year’s red colors and Chinese food storefronts and streets in the more Chinese neighborhood in Brooklyn are all attempts to fill in the yearning of hope to reconnect with memories of his grandparents and memories of China.
Michael’s overall statement is that he misses his birth home. This film shows him looking for familiar cultural connections until he can return to China and reconnect with his grandparents. Michael is able to feel comfortable saying that he feels proud to identify with both Fuzhou and NYC cultures but his masked portrait in the very last frame of the film shows a set of eyes that may possibly relay otherwise and made the ending of this film feel as if he is still questioning his NYC experience.