Bad Axe

Name: Bad Axe
Director: David Siev
Released: 2020

David Siev 2020

BAD AXE captures a real-time portrait of a closely-knit Asian American family, living in rural Michigan during the 2020 pandemic, as they fight to keep their local restaurant and American dream alive. With rising racial tensions, the family uses their voice and must unite as they reckon with backlash from a divided community, white supremacists, and intergenerational trauma from Cambodia’s “killing fields.”

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Running Time:

101 min.

Spoken Languages:

English

Subtitles:

English

Directors:

David Siev

Producers:

Jude Harris, Diane Quon, Kat Vasquez, David Siev

Cinematographers:

David Siev

Editors:

Peter Wagner, Rosie Walunas

Production Companies:

3AD, Baker's Dozen Films

Immigration and Migrat..

Personal Story

Politics

Press

RogerEbert.Com

"The most essential film made about this era"

Brian Tallerico
San Francisco Chronicle

"Among the finest and most important films of the year"

G. Allen Johnson
Los Angeles Times

"A penetrating assessment of American society"

Michael Rechtshaffen
The Hollywood Reporter

"Potent and personal"

Daniel Fienberg
POV Magazine

"Heartfelt and intimate"

Courtney Small

Festival Participation

SXSW - 2022
Documentary Feature Audience Award Winner
SXSW - 2022
Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling Special Jury Recognition Winner
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US - 2023
Cinema Eye Honors Award Winner
Hawaii International Film Festival - 2022
Emerging Filmmaker Award Winner
Mountain Film Festival - 2022
Best Feature Documentary Grand Prize Winner
Traverse City Film Festival - 2022
Best Feature Film Audience Award Winner

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