Guián

Nicole Chi Amén – Director Note’s

Guián is a portrait of my journey as a young, third generation Chinese-Costa Rican woman, trying to connect with her Chinese grandma, who I incorrectly called Guián because I never asked the meaning of the words I spoke. The passing away of my grandma led me to the decision of traveling for the first time to the place she abandoned: China.

When I started this documentary I thought a lot about the community I am part of, and I reflected a lot on how our representation had to go beyond the chop suey we cook and the mispronounced “r”, beyond the China man in the supermarket or the myth that all Chinese people eat rat meat.

This is why I decided to create an intimate portrait, putting myself in the center of the story, and the experience of my own family in Costa Rica. For me, it is vital to present more dimensions than the stereotypes we are known for. 

But this is a universal story too, because it’s about connecting with an unknown past and trying to find the roots that shape our identity. This is a film about not forgetting, or not allowing to forget.