Event

2009-10-02b: The New Twenty -- 2009 DC Asian Pacific American Film

The New Twenty follows the journey through adulthood among five best friends in New York City and reflects on the rites of passage that 20s-going-on-30s face today. Friends since college, Andrew, Felix, Tony, Julie, and Ben find their collective friendship changing as they navigate both the thrills and challenges of their individual lives.

Andrew and Julie, the power couple, announce their engagement to each other during a festive group celebration, but not without Julie expressing concern about how the group dynamic has been affected since their college days. At the same time, Andrew launches his startup business, tiptoeing to recruit the help of some of his friends, but not others, leading to a potentially awkward situation. Meanwhile, Tony begins to fall for an older college professor that he meets, but struggles to commit to a relationship with him and relies on his friends for advice. Surrounded by friends who are all finding careers and love on their own, Ben finds himself searching for his own personal identity. And what is Felix up to?

First-time director Chris Mason Johnson, who also co-wrote the film, brings a personal perspective into The New Twenty, seeking to show social contexts that have been little depicted in film before: a circle of close friends consisting of both straight and gay males, and the effect of the 2000-era Wall Street bubble mentality on relationships. The dynamic ensemble cast features Nicole Bilderback (Bring it On, Dawsons Creek) as Julie and Andrew Wei Lin (upcoming Tekken) as Tony. --Kendrick Hang

Preceded by:
Joo Mahl (Weekend), Directed by Paula Un Mi Kim