The uncut COLMA: THE MUSICAL (2006) is now available on The Criterion Channel as part of the Asian “American Filmmaking Collection” alongside luminary Asian-Am filmmakers from the same era, curated by eternal champions Brian Hu and Chi-hui Yang!
This is the festival cut which brings back scenes missing from the theatrical release, including a whole musical number! While Rich updated the grade, I updated the sound mix and now you can see what director Richard Wong calls “the definitive cut”.
Thank you Brian and Chi-hui! We’re honored.
Watch COLMA: THE MUSICAL on The Criterion Channel HERE!
I got emotional watching the 17 minute featurette of Brian Hu and Chi-hui Yang speaking so beautifully on The Criterion Channel about Asian American Filmmaking from 2000-2009. Not like WEEPY, but there was this overwhelming sense of camaraderie and nostalgia not unlike the one you feel at a school reunion. As Chi-hui said himself: this was a pivotal decade for the community.
This morning, as I get ready to give my own talk on Asian American movies with Patrick Epino at CSUSB (and spend time with my niece Mia!) I'm feeling grateful for Brian and Chi-hui, not only for giving this college dropout the language and framework for how to give such talks, but for always championing us.
I'm also excited to share a lot of these films that were only previously available in standard definition (MAN PUSH CART and IN BETWEEN DAYS in 1080p yassss) and also be able to talk to folks about the late Prashant Bhargava whose short film, SANGAM, can be watched in this lineup before you go see his beautiful feature, PATANG.
Thank you Brian and Chi-hui for ALL of the hard work you've been doing for so long and being such integral players in the mission to bring stories to light. You guys do beautiful things.
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