All across the globe, Chinatowns are under threat of disappearing – and along with them, the rich history of communities who fought from the margins for a place to belong. Big Fight in Little Chinatown is a story of community resistance and resilience. Set against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic and an unprecedented rise in anti-Asian racism, the documentary takes us into the lives of residents, businesses and community organizers whose neighborhoods are facing active erasure.
Big Fight in Little Chinatown documents the collective fight to save Chinatowns across North America.
Coast to coast, the film follows Chinatown communities resisting the pressures around them. From the construction of the world’s largest vertical jail in New York, Montreal’s fight against developers swallowing up the most historic block of their Chinatown, big box chains and gentrification forces displacing Toronto’s community, to a Vancouver Chinatown business holding steadfast, the film reveals how Chinatown is both a stand-in for other communities who’ve been wiped off the city map, and the blueprint for inclusive and resilient neighborhoods of the future.
Director: Karen Cho
Executive Producer: Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross
Producer: Bob Moore
Cinematographer: Nathaniel Brown, Joshua Frank
Editor: Ryan Mullins
Animation: Fred Casia, Brandon Blommaert