The Motel (2005)

Thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin lives and works at a sleazy hourly-rate motel on a strip of desolate suburban bi-way. Misunderstood by his family and blindly careening into puberty, Ernest ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Kang

Writer:

Michael Kang

Stars:

Jeffrey Chyau, Sung Kang, Jade Wu

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeffrey Chyau	...	Ernest
Sung Kang	...	Sam
Jade Wu	...	Ahma Chin
Samantha Futerman	...	Christine
Alexis Chang	...	Katie (as Alexis Kapp Chang)
Stephen Chen	...	Gung Gung
Conor J. White	...	Roy
Jackson Budinger	...	Jess
Clint Jordan	...	Walter
Eleanor Hutchins	...	Gina
Ron Domingo	...	Hank
Jackie Nova	...	Shakira
Jake Holbrook	...	Toby
Ian Boyd	...	Jimmy
Glen Brackenridge	...	Cheap Ass Naked Man

Storyline

Thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin lives and works at a sleazy hourly-rate motel on a strip of desolate suburban bi-way. Misunderstood by his family and blindly careening into puberty, Ernest befriends Sam Kim, a self-destructive yet charismatic Korean man who has checked in. Sam teaches the fatherless boy all the rites of manhood.

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Plot Keywords:

motel | friendship between men | asian american | liar | absent father | 

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Taglines:

Out of Place in the Middle of Nowhere.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

Cantonese English

Release Date:

24 January 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Poughkeepsie, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,100 (USA) (30 June 2006)

Gross:

$47,111 (USA) (6 October 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Flan de Coco Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Sam: I know what you were thinking. I hope this guy speaks english.
Ernest: No, You walk like you speak english.

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Connections

Referenced in The Motel: Behind the Scenes (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Untitled #2"
Written by Carol Bui
Performed by Carol Bui
Courtesy of Drunken Butterfly

User Reviews

Great Combinations of Characters and Story

I've seen it at the VC Film Fest 2006 - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, which this movie also won the best narrative feature film jury prize.

This movie doesn't have named actors. HOWEVER, if you have ever bought a adult magazine and hid it under the bed when you are 12, or you had to dealt with those boys...., this is the movie that makes you laugh and cry.

The excellent choice of dialog. And Jeffrey Chyau who plays the main character, Ernest, is not a professional actors. According to the director, Michael Kang, he literary found him on the street. According to Kang, a quiet unconfident boy never come to the audition. His 6 months search of Earnest definitely paid off in the movie. Kang was able to create good chemistry between Chyau and Sung Kang, who plays Sam.

If you like fast pacing movie, this movie may not fit you. However, if you would like to look back your "realistic" childhood, this is the movie to watch, but you have to see it in the theater.

When you leave the movie theater, I assure you will feel like being a grown-up.