Director Amy Wang | Slanted: Why Would A Chinese Teen Want To Become White?

Dr. Stephanie J. Wong talks with Director of Slanted, Amy Wang about the takeaways from the bold, provocative genre-bender that uses sharp satire and sci-fi horror to interrogate beauty standards, assimilation, and the cost of belonging.

The film follows Joan Huang (Shirley Chen), a high school outsider who idolizes the popular girls and dreams of becoming prom queen, but fears the only way to win is to look like every past queen whose portraits line the school halls. When she discovers Ethnos, a mysterious cosmetic surgery clinic that turns people White, Joan undergoes the procedure and wakes up as a blonde girl (Mckenna Grace) seemingly destined for the crown. As her transformation brings popularity and power, it also exposes the disturbing personal and cultural cost of erasing one’s identity.

Highlights of the interview:

• How Amy drew from her own experiences to produce the movie
• Ways she collaborated with McKenna to portray the pain and anguish of living as Joan (Chinese)
• The importance of empathy and challenging social norms

Slanted is hands-down the #1 must-see movie of the year and premieres in theaters on March 13th! 

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