Written & Directed by Nicolas Chae
Feature Film | Drama | In Development
“In 1990s Dallas, a Korean immigrant mother balances night shifts, motherhood, and learning English as she chases the "American Dream" for her son – only to discover the life she's building is the very thing pushing him away.”
Americano is an intimate, observational feature film about motherhood, assimilation, and the unseen labor of immigrant parents. Set in early 2000s Dallas, Texas, the film follows Mina Yoon, a Korean immigrant single mother working multiple jobs to support her teenage son, Daniel, who is beginning to pull away as he searches for independence and belonging.
Daniel translates for his mother in schools, stores, and daily life – believing that this makes him mature, worldly, and grown. But translation is not understanding. As Daniel becomes increasingly embarrassed by Mina's English, her presence, and her sacrifices, he fails to see the emotional and physical cost she carries for him.
The film unfolds through quiet, ordinary moments: shared meals, car rides, waiting rooms, silence. These moments accumulate into an emotional reckoning – not through escalation, but through recognition.
AMERICANO is currently in development. Visual references and additional materials will be added here as the project develops.