Written, directed and acted by Justin Chon, Cook won the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for the Next section this past January.
The tale takes place on April 29, 1992 – the day the LA riots started and the day the Rodney King verdicts were announced. Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers played by Justin Chon and David So, own a struggling shoe store.
They develop an unlikely friendship with Kamilla, a streetwise 11 year old African American girl (played by new actress Simone Baker), who ditches school to hang out with them. T
Thus, they create their own “family.”
Eli stresses about the store, and Daniel tries to have a good time. It’s just another typical day at the store until the Rodney King verdict is read and riots break out.
With the chaos moving towards them, the trio is forced to defend the store while contemplating the future of their own personal dreams and the true meaning of family.