Sunday Errand

Director’s Statement:

“Sunday Errand” is a dark comedy short inspired by my childhood memories of growing up in the American South. My family and I were the first Asian-American family in Sterling, Virginia, which had been set up in the 60’s as a “Whites Only’” sanctuary for Southerners who opposed integration.

I watched my family being regularly refused service at gas stations and grocery stores. I also watched them fight back many times, in sharp contrast to the American stereotypes of Asians being model minorities or compliant.

I grew up to become a filmmaker and comedic performer because storytelling saved my life and comedy is a way to tell the truth. I want families such as mine - who are often made invisible by mainstream cinema culture - to see their stories vividly, proudly, unapologetically illuminated in everyday culture.

Sunday Errand is a one-scene, ten minute, proof of concept film for my eventual feature film, “Dear Wizard,” which tells the story of my family receiving letters from the Virginia Ku Klux Klan in the 1980’s. The true story behind Dear Wizard aired on NPR and set local, public radio records for most downloaded story. Listen to the story.)

In a time when the country is seeing a spike in anti-Asian sentiment and violence, my hope is that Sunday Errand can inspire meaningful discussion about the untold story of the everyday racism that Asian American families have fought to triumph over.

-Christy Chan