The Motel (2005)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Michael Kang

Writer:

Michael Kang (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Out of Place in the Middle of Nowhere.

Plot:

Thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin lives and works at a sleazy hourly-rate motel on a strip of desolate suburban bi-way...

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Absent Father | Friendship Between Men | Asian American | Female Nudity

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

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

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Cantonese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Poughkeepsie, New York, USA

Company:

Flan de Coco Films

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Features Happy Tree Friends: Volume 1: First Blood (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Oh My Dear (Falling In Love)

one of the best of Sundance

This feature was surprisingly the best of the 9 films I saw at Sundance. This is an endearing story of a young boy going through the struggles of life - it is a remarkably funny and heartfelt story that really moved me and the entire audience on opening night. This is, in my honest opinion, the sleeper hit of Sundance and the best movie in the festival. DEFINITELY worth checking out, I think it was overlooked due to the hoopla and buzz of other movies with bigger name celebrities. Filmmaker Mike Kang has taken a very endearing story and made it into an excellent film, about a lonely young boy working at a family-owned motel, who befriends a mysterious stranger (Sung Kang, from Better Luck Tomorrow) that teaches him the ropes of growing up (irresponsibly). It is a hilarious movie, yet it is filled with strong emotion and drama - many, especially the mothers in the audience, were brought to tears by the end. Highly recommended, just watch it for yourself and enjoy!