'Planet B-Boy' Lands in Philly

« Asian Americans in California Support Gay Marriage, Survey Says | Main | Asian American Advocacy Groups Help New Citizens Vote »

October 16, 2008

By Althea Chang, contributing writer

Asian American filmmakers, actors and film lovers broke in the brand new home of Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia this past weekend for the first annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival , sponsored by HBO and others.

While it was especially enlightening and encouraging to hear from actors and filmmakers alike that there's a growing need for Asian American actors, especially men (even for roles outside the stereotypes), the highlight of the festival for me was the documentary "Planet B-Boy," from Korean American filmmaker Benson Lee.

I missed "Planet B-Boy" at the New York Asian American International Film Festival in July, and I was excited to have another chance to attend a screening in Philly. I'd heard some buzz about the documentary but I had no idea that the film was such a hit until I saw the length of both the waitlist and standby list for the Philly festival's screening. Still, I didn't expect to be sitting on the edge of my seat for the majority of the film.

As an introduction, through interviews with old school hip-hop guys, "Planet B-Boy" starts with a lesson on the four traditional elements of hip-hop: DJs, B-boys (breakdancers), MCs, and graffiti artists, each with their own form of self-expression.

Then we meet B-boy crews from all over the world competing in the Battle of the Year, an event held in Germany where the most innovative and skilled B-boys face off for about €3,000, but more so for the recognition that comes with the award.

The film focused on the previous year's champs, the Gamblerz of Korea, as well as Ichigeki of Japan, a new Korean B-boy crew called Last for One, Knucklehead Zoo from Las Vegas, and a French crew called Phase-T. It pulled together stunning footage of each crew at the Battle of the Year that left me amazed at their skill, almost to the point of bewilderment.

Among the 350 hours of raw footage Benson Lee shot, there were tons of moving, personal stories to sort through. One was of a 12-year-old white kid in France breaking with a crew of 6-foot-tall black guys and the reaction of his admittedly racist mother. Another involved a Japanese B-boy who worked at a tea shop with his mother and brother who were actually supportive of his breakdancing.

But the most heartwarming story was that of a Korean B-boy raised by a single father who made a meager social work wage giving away Korean flags for people to hang in their homes. At first, his father didn't understand why he'd devote his life to what some would consider polishing the floor with their backs instead of a career that most Asian parents would be proud of. While at first there was a disconnect between the B-boy and his dad, the father-son bond was sealed through pride in their work, pride in their country and a better understanding of the meaning behind the art form.

As the crews gathered from all over the world for the Battle of the Year in Germany, it was clear that despite language barriers, there was plenty of communication going on with looks, with facial expressions and with their moves. As each crew performs, you see Asians, who've admired and embraced a once all-American phenomenon, making hip-hop culture their own.

This blog entry is graciously sponsored by Toyota Matrix. Check out their website dedicated to the best in Asian American film.