Wenhwa Tsao, interim co-director of the School of Film and Television at Columbia College Chicago, brings a story of labor, love, and resilience to the DC Independent Film Festival.

Wenhwa Tsao, interim co-director of the School of Film and Television at Columbia College Chicago, not only teaches students about filmmaking, she’s out there doing it herself. And this Valentine’s Day, a short film she wrote, directed, and produced “Yummy Cuisine,” will be screened at the DC Independent Film Festival in our nation’s capital.

The film tells the story of Wei, whose car is everything to him. He uses it to deliver food and support his family. And when that car is stolen, Wei must fight to save both his job and his young son’s life.

A real incident involving Tsao’s friend who owned a Chinese carry-out restaurant inspired the film. The friend was carjacked while delivering food after being called to a fake address.

“Reflecting on what happened, he realized he had likely been targeted because of his race,” says Tsao. “That moment stayed with me. It made me think deeply about the quiet risks many immigrant and working-class families face simply while doing their everyday jobs.”

The film is Tsao’s way of telling the story from within her own community, but while it grew out of a specific cultural experience, she believes the theme is universal.

“It centers on ordinary people, their labor, their love, and their resilience, and it acknowledges the prejudice and divisions that exist around human communities,” she says.

Tsao hopes the film encourages audiences to see one another with empathy and to recognize the humanity behind the food we order, the services we rely on, and the neighbors we may not fully know.

“I hope audiences leave the film feeling compassion towards others in their lives,” she says.

 

Screening Information

DC Independent Film Festival
Personal / Drama Shorts Block
Saturday, February 14
2:15–4:30 p.m.
Regal Gallery Place
701 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC

Event details and tickets

• Film and Television
• Faculty Spotlight

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