What's in a name?

Do you know a Grace Lee? Most of us have at least come across a Grace Lee at one point in our lives. She's usually nice, sweet, quiet, smart/ intelligent, attractive ... basically your typical Asian female ... or is she?

Such is the question asked by award winning filmmaker, Grace Lee, who having also been named the Asian equivalent of Jane Smith, seeks out others to see if all Grace Lee's are the same.

THE GRACE LEE PROJECT is a fascinating documentary of the average ... and not so average look at identity and cultural expectations.

While the documentary is often hilarious in its ironic look at the average Asian female, it's a wonder why the director herself is so hung up on the unoriginality of her name. Perhaps it's because while world all melds us together in the same pot, we as individuals in a North American society pride ourselves on our originality and uniqueness. Therefore, Grace Lee the director, is the person to make herself stand out from all the other Grace Lee's in the world.

A bit off topic, I Googled my name and found I share it with a woman who is a murial artist ... cool huh? ... My sister Googled hers and found out she shares her name with a shemale in Malaysia somewhere ... no, I'm not going to tell you her name or link it.

But this is definitely no Google search.

Throughout the documentary you get to meet 88 year-old Grace Lee, an activist who champions the rights of African Americans in Detroit. Find out about Grace Lee, who set fire and attempted to burn down her school. Yet, the Grace Lee that steals everyone's thunder is the woman who helps her friend and her four children escape from an abusive relationship.

Is the Grace Lee you know like any of the women in documentary? Watch and find out.

THE GRACE LEE PROJECT plays at the REEL ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL
This Saturday, Nov 26 - 6:45PM @ Innis Town Hall
Tickets - $9
Director Grace Lee will be in attendance.

Another aside, while watching the documentary I realized that I personally don't know a Grace Lee, but I know a Grace Park; she can be found here. Average? I think not.

Here is the full festival line-up recorded at the press conference.

Click on the image to download the video. (It's a biggie) (35MB MOV)

For more information on the Reel Asian Film Festival please refer to their official website. www.reelasian.com.