Mountain View filmmaker goes back to school at Cinequest

"We had serious conversations about if we could and should proceed. Independent films are challenging under the best of circumstances. This wasn't the best of circumstances. I'm really proud of the cast and crew for holding together."

"Reunion follows Guy, an Asian American funeral home worker who goes to his high school reunion with the hope of jump-starting his life, only to be mistaken for the most successful alumnus of another school—a mysterious Asian billionaire who no one has seen since graduation."

"There's a little bit of a message here about seeing people for who they are. I don't think it's an accident that the character is Asian American. I thought it was fertile territory. Reunions can be nerve-wracking; you want to make an impression."

John Kim, a Mountain View resident and first-generation Korean American filmmaker, directed and wrote 'Reunion,' a comedy film that premiered at the Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival in San Jose on March 15, 2025. The production faced extraordinary challenges when filming began on January 7, 2025, coinciding with the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires that destroyed over 57,000 acres and displaced thousands, including cast and crew members. After nine days of serious deliberation about whether to continue, the filmmakers decided to proceed and successfully completed the shoot. The film follows Guy, an Asian American funeral home worker who attends his high school reunion hoping to revitalize his life, only to be mistaken for a successful billionaire alumnus. Kim intentionally crafted the story to explore themes of identity and perception, emphasizing the importance of seeing people for who they truly are.

Read at The Mercury News