Ān-dé-lǔ

13-year-old Andrew Chong plays on his town’s baseball team. Surrounded by white faces, Andrew makes jokes at his own expense to find approval, pushing away his father, Hao.

One day, Andrew is put into the starting lineup. At his at-bat, he hears an animalistic cheer from Hao in the bleachers. Two strikes later, Andrew readies his last swing when he hears laughter from the opposing team. One player makes racist jokes at Andrew, making fun of his dad. Andrew freezes. It crescendos until Hao comes to Andrew’s rescue, cheering in Chinese.

Andrew must learn that baseball is not just a game – it’s his connection with his identity and family. He readies his bat. The pitch comes, and Andrew swings.

Directed by Alan He
Produced by Alan He, Makayla Leilua, and Rachel Chung

Director’s Bio: A young Chinese-American baseball player must confront his internalized racism after his overbearing father comes to his rescue.

Plays in

Breaking the Frame: Student Shorts

Young, emerging filmmakers from Asia and the Asian diaspora are pushing the boundaries of storytelling, redefining the cinematic landscape with their fresh perspectives and captivating short-form narratives.