FISH BONES (USA/ 82 min/ 2018)
Fish Bones is a film about Hana, a young Korean immigrant from a traditionally
conservative family. She struggles with her sexuality as she falls in love
with Nico, a charming Latinx music producer.
After her mother’s illness worsens, Hana returns home to help with the family restaurant.
During a shift, she waits on Nico, and they are instantly drawn to each other,
leading to a deep but forbidden romance. Their love blossoms,
but Hana finds herself wracked with guilt and shame as her romance
flouts the sacrosanct traditional values of her family and heritage.
Starring: Joony Kim, Cris Gris
Producer: Mary Evangelista & Joanne Mony Park
Writer/ Director: Joanne Mony Park
Director of Photography: Sheldon Chau
Editor: Yael Urbach, Joanne Mony Park
Production Design: Rosa Callejas & Milena Luna
Wardrobe: Begonia Berges
HMU: Mayela Vasquez
Sound Design: John Nathans
SLAMDANCE//OFFICIAL SELECTION (World Premiere)
FRAMELINE//OFFICIAL SELECTION
INSIDE OUT//OFFICIAL SELECTION
OUTFEST FUSION//OFFICIAL SELECTION
LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL//OFFICIAL SELECTION
(Winner, Best Director)
NEWFEST//OFFICIAL SELECTION
SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL//OFFICIAL SELECTION
HONG KONG LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL//OFFICIAL SELECTION
CINEMASIA//OFFICIAL SELECTION
VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL//OFFICIAL SELECTION
"By far the biggest surprise in Park City was Joanne Mony Park’s debut feature Fish
Bones which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival. New York-based Korean fashion
model Joony Kim plays a model who is disjointedly attempting to piece together her
life. Gloriously lo-fi, non-linear, and sporting the best soundtrack of any film in Park City,
this uniquely crafted piece is essential viewing for anyone looking for a crispy
new voice in cinema." -48hills
"What we have in Fish Bones is a careful and immaculate deconstruction on what it
means to find yourself amidst a sea of doubt. It is a tender, tragic and true work. With
such a considerate and assured directorial debut, Joanne Mony Park is bound to be
a name you will be hearing a lot about in the near future." -Screenarchy
"Like its story, Fish Bones is a quiet and gentle film, composed almost entirely of long,
polished takes, each striking in its subtle and meticulous allure." -Slug Magazine
"The film's overall level of restraint, however, could be principally attributable to Park's
preference for indirect commentary rather than outright confrontation. By limiting her
characters to terse and often oblique exchanges, Park conceals motivational intent,
relying more on the sparse emotional content of individual scenes to convey meaning."
"Park gives us some poignant, and some seemingly ordinary moments; but these are the
moments that often meet side by side, that are where both the big and small revelations
occur." -Screenarchy
“It could feel gimmicky, but doesn’t; instead, it is cinematically innovative and deft, and a
lovely work of art." -Hammer to Nail
"Ultimately, the film works very well as is and shows off a lot of the talents Park has as
an up and coming director. Fish Bones is a beautiful story about love and sexuality and is
a great starting point for what should be a very promising career." -TwoOhSix