A Great Divide

I found this movie unexpected and really rewarding to watch. Yes, there were clichés but they're real life clichés, and the sum of the movie made everything fit and seem new and relevatory. I think this is due to the honesty in which the various themes and charactors stories were handled which made this movie wholly original. The performances were all amazing and the story was beautiful, gentle and real even with some of it's harsh reality.

I hope this kind of heartfelt, understated and beautiful movie starts a trend. It's what we need at this time. A movie that will help people breathe, heal and grow up.

I had high hopes but this is a total political letdown. The acting is decent but the premise is disappointing. It portrays Wyoming and its people in a very unfair light. It seems to be completely fiction, which was perhaps the goal. I was very disappointed in all aspects of this movie. The writing and storyline stink, as does the directing. One of the only redeeming qualities is the setting, which is stunning. The producers and directors should be ashamed of themselves and have clearly never spent any time in Wyoming. The people are very kind and accepting. This movie pairs a very unfair and immaculate portrayal of the state.

I had mixed feelings about this movie after seeing it as part of a festival run. Perhaps I went in with too high expectations because I fit the target audience. I'll start with the positives. I thought Ken Jeong was awesome as was Jamie McShane from Wednesday and Miya Cech an up and comer from Netflix and Disney. Smart casting of some better known actors. The woman playing the grandma and the teen boy that is a local bully were both good too. A big problem for me was the portrayal of exaggerated racism that didn't feel realistic even as a person of Korean descent. The movie moved slowly at times and the story line was disjointed. Overall I liked about as much as I disliked so I'll give it 5 stars.

I attended the Asian American International Film Festival watching a screening of A Great Divide. Jeff Yang, one of the writers and producers, was on hand with actress MeeWha Lee for a film Q&A afterwards. It looks like the movie will be available on Hulu (and possibly other streaming services) shortly. It needs to be seen far and wide. So many Asian Americans, like myself for one, can relate to the heartfelt stories of the father/ mother during their lives to get this point only to have to deal with xenophobia like never before while trying to adjust to life in Wyoming. I absolutely loved it! The actors, including Ken Jeong and Jae Suh Park, are wonderful in their roles. The cinematography is gorgeous. The story was powerful, sobering and at the same time carries a message that younger generations carry the potential for positive change. I fervently feel this well-written and relevant movie deserves Oscar noms!

As an Asian American dad, I'm happy to see a movie like this on screen. I loved Ken Jeong in a drama role and the storyline brought me to tears several times. I could relate to the relationships and heartbreak the characters felt. Beautifully shot and hopefully brings some insight to those who have not dealt with racism and prejudice before. The movie is an education in what many Asian Americans have felt for generations and continue to feel, especially during the pandemic. It's a story that needed to be told and makes me feel seen as an Asian American man. I hope to see more movies like this one.