The beauty of coming-of-age movies is that everyone’s journey is different, which means the possibilities are endless.
Upcoming indie Golden Delicious proves this by finding another fresh angle on the familiar genre, centering its story on an Asian-Canadian teen named Jake who explores his jock side just as he’s beginning to question his own sexuality.
A senior in high school, Jake (Cardi Wong) is feeling pressure from all sides: Pressure to figure out what he wants to do with his life, pressure from his father (Ryan Mah) who wants him to join the basketball team, and pressure from his girlfriend (Parmiss Sehat) to have sex for the first time. It’s a lot for one guy to handle!
Things get even more complicated when a new neighbor, Aleks (Chris Carson), movies in. Handsome, proudly gay, and obsessed with basketball, Aleks’ charms throw Jake for a loop. Attempting to get closer to Aleks—while simultaneously making his father happy—Jake decides to try out for the basketball team. But is that what he really wants? Is Aleks what he really wants?
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The first feature-length film from award-winning director Jason Karman, Golden Delicious uses Jake’s burgeoning queer romance as a springboard to explore themes like family, legacy, and authenticity. As our protagonist discovers what makes him happy, there are unintentional ripple effects to those around him, from his social-media obsessed girlfriend, to his parents, to the family business—a Chinese restaurant that gives the film its name.
The film premieres today at the Vancouver International Film Festival, but will soon make its U.S. debut at the closing night of the Seattle Queer Film Festival (SQFF).
The 27th Annual SQFF, which runs from October 13-23 is an eleven-day event that features 59 programs from all over the world, all unified under the theme of “Queer Magic.” In addition to in-person screenings, many titles from its lineup will also offer virtual streaming opportunities for anyone in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. You can find out more about the festival here.
As the festival’s special closing night presentation, Golden Delicious will premiere in person-on Saturday, October 22, and will be available virtually throughout SQFF’s run.
Further release details have yet to be announced, but you can watch the trailer for Golden Delicious below and find tickets to its SQFF screening here.
bigrawtop
first photo is misleading.
abfab
No. I’m seeing Eddie Munster and Craig Brady. Make it stop.
Neoprene
An Asian-Canadian jock? That IS unexpected. Must be a sci-fi movie.
EducatedOtter
Damn, casually racist much?
Kangol2
Do you guys ever quit with the racist BS? Cut that crap out!
mg10
I can’t stand watching thirty-year-olds play highschool kids. It looks so ridiculous, like an SNL skit. But I don’t think that’s why I’m supposed to laugh at this movie.
mailliw110
Just wondering who gets..beat-up, thrown out of the house, or dies? The first part of the article is incorrect. “Coming of age” stories always have to have at least one of those three. And yes, they are all very predictable.
wiggie
great, another 30 year old playing a high school student
MudgeBoy
Yup, Cardi Wong is 29 years old. Why do they do that? Why do they get a guy that hasn’t been a teenager for a decade? Didn’t they learn from Heartstopper that success lies in choosing actors close to the age of the character? Are there no teenagers in Canada who can act?