Synopsis:

The name of this film is Wild Grass, just like the fate of Chinese Americans.In 2004, the Philadelphia government promulgated the curfew law, mainly restricting the restaurants opened in residential areas to stop operating before 11 pm. In the following 14 years, 96% of the tickets issued by the police station were given to Chinese restaurants. This racially discriminatory law enforcement case was sued by the Chinese restaurant owner against the city government of Philadelphia in 2017. In 2018, the Federal Supreme Court announced that the Chinese restaurant won the case. Thus ending the 15-year discriminatory bill.

There is a side of the United States that many people don’t like to dwell on, but after watching the film THE WEEDS, the shocking reality sets in to what the media and government are doing to Chinese Americans. In a story of mass discrimination for a marginalized community, the documentary captures and retains the attention of the viewer from beginning to end in a way that opens the eyes to those who don’t live in big cities such as Philadelphia. 

The director Gaofeng Tian tells a story that tugs at the heartstrings while opening the mind to a community that all decent people should stand behind against the discrimination of Chinese American businesses. The gripping opening begins with Chinese restaurant owners in Philadelphia stating what led to a discriminatory law and ends with them uniting to overturn the law after years of suffering. 

The themes depicted in THE WEEDS are ones everyone could relate to in this contentious time of a distrust of the media and government. Tian proves this claim through the use of news clips and a curfew law that blamed Chinese businesses for getting robbed. The accusation that the Philadelphia government created hatred, which led to violence is spot on as the film delves into how government propaganda can hurt innocent citizens under the guise of safety. It took people calling for unity within the Chinese American community and reaching out to other minority groups to get the unconstitutional Curfew Law overturned through protests and lawsuits. This shows the side of the United States that still brings hope, that through unity the people are still in charge and can remove corrupt pieces of legislation. 

This film can also be used as a promotional film to elect David Oh as Philadelphia Mayor in 2024 as he shows how much he cares for his community. Oh served as the film expert on not only the law, but the way Chinese businesses operate to show that he cares for his community. 

THE WEEDS is multifaceted and is a film everyone should see as it evokes powerful emotions in an eye-opening manner. The documentary short brings shock, tears and triumphant as the story goes through every moment that the Chinese restaurant owners in Philadelphia endured for over a decade before ending in hope with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace playing in the background as victory is won.

By,

Victoria Angelique

Directed by GAOFENG TIAN

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