Short Film – Atlanta – 2021 – 10 min – Color | Korean, English | 2.35 | Stereo
LOGLINE
It follows Minho Kim, whose day is disrupted by a nationwide alert that North Korea launched a nuclear bomb on course to hit California.
FULL FILM
HOCA STUDIO presents
CAST & CREW
written and directed by M. J. Hahn
produced by Thang Ho
starring Joseph Steven Yang, Jakob Kim
cinematography Jin Kim
production design Connor Sulivan
editing M. J. Hahn
music by Christian Chambers
post-production sound Ryan Steinbach (Studio 734)
designed by Iara Faria
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
“Kim’s” is a short film exploring the isolation and identity struggles of Asian Americans, set against the backdrop of a false nuclear threat. It follows a day in the life of Minho Kim and his son Stephen, highlighting the immigrant experience, father-son dynamics, and the impact of societal tension.
Inspired by my time as a news production intern during heightened US-North Korea tensions, the film asks: How would the public react to Korean-Americans in a false North Korean nuclear threat? My experiences in Atlanta, home to a large Korean-American community, revealed the complex identity crisis faced by many immigrants. Despite being born in the US, they’re seen as foreigners, while in Korea, they’re considered too American.
“Kim’s” delves into themes of isolation and belonging through Minho’s struggles as a single father, using the false alarm as a catalyst to expose the fragility of acceptance and the racism that can surface in times of crisis. While the story focuses on the Korean-American experience, its core emotions—rejection, solitude, and the struggle to fit in—are universal.
The film seeks to challenge preconceptions about immigrants and minorities, encouraging understanding and empathy by portraying the resilience required to forge an identity between cultures. Ultimately, “Kim’s” aims to spark a nuanced conversation about immigration, identity, and belonging in America.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2022 Santa Barbara international film festival
2022 Maryland Film Festival
BEHIND THE SCENES
captured by Johnny Boy Tellem