Golden Delicious
James Brown
A charming story from Canadian director Jason Karman, Golden Delicious is about self-discovery in the age of social media. The film follows high school senior Jake (Cardi Wong) as he navigates the complexities of identity, family pressure, and teenage romance. By challenging traditional expectations around masculinity, Golden Delicious provides an honest look at coming out/coming of age through characters who celebrate their queerness with joy and humor.
An earnest boy, Jake wants to please everyone, but everyone seems to want something different from him. His father wants him to follow in his footsteps. His mother wants just the opposite for Jake and his sister. His girlfriend, Valerie (Parmiss Sehat), wants to take their relationship to the next level.
Aleks (Chris Carson), an openly gay teen who likes basketball, offers to help Jake improve his skills and make the basketball team. On the surface, Jake manages to keep everyone happy and appears happy himself. Everything changes when Jake realizes it’s not basketball he wants.
Golden Delicious is a multi-layered story about identity, family, and finding oneself amid chaos. The characters are complex and nuanced while still relevant to today’s audiences. Its exploration of Asian culture and representation in cinema offers an insightful look into modern Asian-Canadian life. There is no Tiger Mom and no third-generation offspring desperate to escape the family business. Golden Delicious is a heartfelt story that seeks to evoke empathy from its audience and challenge preconceived notions about identity.
Through a strong script from Chinese-Canadian writer Gorrman Lee (Van Helsing), Golden Delicious paints an emotional portrait of adolescence that resonates with viewers. The film is award-winning filmmaker Jason Karman’s first feature-length film. Fans of DCs TV universe may recognize actors Ryan Mah and Leeah Wong (Superman & Lois), who play Jake’s parents. Claudia Kai gives a most compelling performance as Jake’s sister.
Ultimately, Golden Delicious is a story that celebrates Asian culture while diving into difficult conversations about identity, family dynamics, and growing up in today’s world. It’s a notable reminder of the power of Asian stories to connect with people from all backgrounds. Golden Delicious gives us an emotional journey
Final Thought
Its exploration of Asian culture and representation in cinema offers an insightful look into modern Asian-Canadian life.