Wayne Wang's Princess of Nebraska Opens the Asian American International Film Festival

The 31st AAIFF opens with director Wayne Wang' s THE PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA on Thursday, July 10 at 7:30pm, at the Asian Society in New York.

The 31st Asian American International Film Festival opens with director Wayne Wang's THE PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA on Thursday, July 10 at 7:30pm at the Asian Society in New York.

A complex drama about the conflicted emotional landscape of a young woman at a crossroads, THE PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA is based on a short story by award-winning writer Yiyun Li. The film stars newcomer Li Ling in a stunning debut as Sasha, a pregnant teen who travels alone from Omaha to San Francisco for an abortion.

When Sasha arrives in California, she struggles with her decision to end her pregnancy, the product of a one-night stand with close friend Yang. She clashes with her host, Boshen (Brian Danforth), an older man deported from China for his AIDS activist work. The source of this hostility lies in their overlapping history: he, too, had a tryst with Yang.

Unable to cope with the strain of the triangulated romance, Yang cuts off communication with both Boshen and Sasha. In a desperate effort to lure Yang back into their lives, Boshen tries to convince Sasha to keep her baby. But Sasha's resentment and anger quickly come to a head, and she storms out after an argument to wander the streets alone. In Chinatown, she meets a local karaoke bar hostess, X (Pamelyn Chee). Fascinated by her bravado and independence, Sasha spends an evening of debauchery with X and her clientele.

Shot through the kinetic lens of cinematographer and co-director Richard Wong (COLMA: THE MUSICAL , AAIFF06), the camera confronts Sasha's vanity with great intimacy, but she remains emotionally aloof and unpredictable. For director Wang, this paradox is the hallmark of a new generation of post-Tiananmen Square Chinese youthendlessly self-documenting their lives with cell phones and computers, while embracing a sense of historical amnesia and emotional instability.

Sasha shifts from ferocious recklessnessslipping her hands into the purses of dinner gueststo defiant vulnerability as a patient in a health clinic. She is an ethically ambivalent and fiercely independent creature, neither ingnue nor fallen woman.

Wayne Wang, Richard Wong, and Ling Li will be in attendance.

The Opening Night Gala is after the screening. Following the gala, join ACV at the M.A.T.H. Club's Opening Night Afterparty@Forbidden City. Car service to Forbidden City will be provided by Toyota.

Purchase Tickets for PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA

Asian American International Film Festival
Tickets Members of Asian CineVision, Asia Society & valid NYU ID-holders | $7
Students, Seniors & Partner Organizations | $9 (limit 1 per ID)
General | $11
Opening Night Presentation: THE PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA + Gala
General Admission $60 | Members $40 | Gala only $35
Box Office: 212.327.9385 / asiancinevision.org

Asia Society
725 Park Ave @ 70th St
New York

Compiled from the AAIFF Official Website.