Filmmaker Statement

Many first-generation Asian Americans often experience a cold distance from their immigrant parents, a misalignment of cultural values and expectations. I struggled with my own mother when I decided to leave medicine in order to pursue my passion for the arts, and I wanted to explore that emotional tension within Dear Mom with the hope of building more empathy, understanding, and healing for our relationship. In creating this film, I realized that healing our external relationships has to start with forgiveness within ourselves first. Sometimes, that's enough to move on and move forward together, remembering that we're all just trying to do our best anyways.