Filmmaker Statement

When I said goodbye to my grandma before getting on the taxi headed to the airport, I didn’t know it would potentially be the last time I would see her. But I guess, we never know these things. Even though the plot of the story isn’t based on real events of my life, the main character’s relationship with her Nai Nai is based on my own with my grandmother, who I call Lao Lao (maternal grandmother). Our relationship was special. My mom was often busy with work, so I spent most of my childhood with my Lao Lao. We would play cards together, she would be my goalie as I practiced soccer, and we’d watch her favourite Chinese dramas while she cooked dumplings. And then one day, my mom and I immigrated to Canada. Leaving her behind. Even though my bond with my Lao Lao was unbreakable, between us lied language and cultural barriers, intergenerational gaps, and the many secrets we both chose to not share with each other. You might be thinking - why hide these things? How could one love someone so much and not be able to share their deepest desires or who they really are? The simple answer would be because of their cultural upbringing. One that touts family harmony, patriarchal views, and to not bring shame upon your family. But there is no simple answer. In some ways, holding these secrets is an act of love itself. To want to preserve a relationship so badly that you’re willing to hide aspects of yourself. I want to tell this story in hopes that it provides comfort and companionship to anyone going through something similar. Because I know I needed it when I was younger. Perhaps the desire to tell this story partially fulfills my own fantasy of wanting to see older queer Asian representation and Asian elders that will accept their queer children and grandchildren. At its core, Don’t Forget Me is a story about grief, an especially timely and relevant topic given current events. In the face of rising hate towards our communities, I want to tell my story. A story from a distinctly Asian Canadian perspective. A queer perspective. One rooted in feelings of isolation, longing for belonging, and pride for my heritage and who I am.