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

"Part of the Nation"
Written by Roy Kim
Performed by Chan

User Reviews

Third Act Lack, but Nice Kang Attack

I thought the movie was excellent, except for the conclusion. Like most independent films, the third act is lacking. Kang really told a great story, but it kind of fell flat at the end. I guess his mother reading the story is supposed to be the conclusion, but maybe having some sort of dialogue with the son would have made the third act more fulfilling.

Otherwise, can't say enough good things about this movie. I liked that there were no stars. I always find a movie more believable when I don't know anyone in the cast. Hey look, it's Denzel. Wasn't he killed in Training Day? The opening scenes with strangers coming in to have sex and the family having to clean up their mess was done very well. Brought the audience into a world it never sees.

I knew very little about Asian relationships from movies. The only other Asian film (besides Crouching Tiger and the like) that I have seen that has dealt with relationships is the Joy Luck Club. It was nice to see this dynamic from the viewpoint of a young male. Joy Luck Club was solely from the female perspective.

Can't wait to see more from Kang.