Kier, Zack, and Bing live in Rockford, Illinois, described as "the most miserable town in America. They grew up in a poor and violent household, and in an attempt to escape their circumstances, they became obsessed with skateboarding. The film depicts the 12 years of these young people struggling desperately in a small town, along with Bin's skate videos, as they face an environment with no hope, the pain of adulthood, and the deep-rooted parent-child divide.
PROFILE
Born in 1989, he began working as a cinematography assistant at the age of 19 and joined the International Union of Cinematographers at 23. he made his directorial debut in 2018 with this film, which won 59 national and international awards, including at the Sundance Film Festival. It was also nominated for an Academy Award and an Emmy Award.
Skateboarding is not just a game, it is more like a family.
The original title, "Minding the Gap," means "watch the gap between the train and the platform," right?
Bing:That's what it should have been (laughs). I wanted to express the boundary or the gap between a child and an adult. I also like the poetic sound.
I see. That makes sense. So, let's start with the story's main plot point, Kier's encounter with Zack.
From left to right: Kier, director Binh, and Zack, who appear in the film.
Bing:Before this film, I had made a skate documentary called "Look At Me. During that time, I visited many places in the U.S. and repeatedly interviewed skaters. When I visited my hometown of Rockford, Illinois, I met them again.
So, you had known each other for a long time?
Bing:That's right. I had known them since they were little. From there, I followed them for five years.
I was really impressed by the line in the film, "Skateboarding is not just a game, it's more like a family". Was it something that you were that close to?
Bing:I believe that family members who love and are loved by others play an important role in a person's life. However, some people do not receive love from their parents during their sensitive years. And as they grow older and their sphere of activity expands, they seek security in other places. As a result, I think that these young people often gather in skateboarding communities. It's not just a game, but a relationship as strong as a family is built there.
I was also surprised to see the director himself in the film. Was this your plan from the beginning?
Bing:I didn't think about it at all at first, but I myself suffered from violent parents when I was a child, and my upbringing was similar to Zack and Kier's. So I decided to confront myself and expose that part of myself. So, I decided to face my own life and expose that part of myself.
It must take a lot of courage to let the audience see your painful past.
Bing:It is a very personal and even more sensitive topic, so when I was talking about it, it was painful because I felt like I was being cut down. But I wanted to show the audience the family I grew up in and the personal questions I had, and I thought that would help them understand the film.
