With the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic came a global sense of fear and uncertainty, followed by political and economic repercussions felt across the world, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in decades. During those early days of the pandemic, New York-based director David Siev returned to his hometown of Bad Axe, Michigan, where his Cambodian family owns a restaurant.
Bad Axe is where his family sought refuge in the mid-70s after escaping the bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge government that had come into power after the years-long Cambodian Civil War, a conflict that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. A predominantly white town of several thousand residents, Bad Axe, is the setting for Siev’s eponymous film, promising to provide an intimate portrait of a multi-generational immigrant family living through a turbulent time in history.
As “Bad Axe” journeys to theaters, it is bringing a bit of buzz. The film has already been screened at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, where it was awarded the Audience Award, and the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, where it took home the Grand Jury Prize, amongst other film festivals. Executive Producer Daniel Dae Kim (“Lost”) has added to the anticipation by saying that Siev and his family “…serve as beacons of hope to everyone working faithfully toward the goals of unity and prosperity in difficult times.” Though “Bad Axe” is Siev’s feature film debut, the filmmaker has made a name for himself with the critically acclaimed short film “Year Zero,” a story about two brothers trying to survive under the Khmer Rouge’s rule.
An IFC Films production, “Bad Axe,” will be available in theatres and via streaming on November 18. Watch the new trailer below.