TIGERTAIL - ALAN YANG INTERVIEW

You might not recognize the name Alan Yang but truth be told he doesn’t mind at all. 

Yang is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner who got his start writing for the hit sitcom Parks and Rec and then went on to join forces with Aziz Ansari to give us the critically acclaimed Netflix series, Master of None. 

Yang has teamed up with Netflix once again for his latest offering, a sombre and heartfelt film called, Tigertail which he wrote and directed. 

The film initially centers on a young Pin-Jui (Hong-Chi Lee), who relocates to the United States from Taiwan in search of a better life, though the move forces him to get an arranged marriage in lieu of staying with the woman he loves. When it turns out America isn’t exactly the land of opportunity that Pin-Jui had hoped for, he’s stuck in a loveless marriage, works a tiresome, thankless job, and, as the trailer explicitly states, becomes broken inside. As the film fast-forwards several decades, an older Pin-Jui (Tzi Ma) seeks to make amends for his past and finally build the life he once dreamed of.

in the lead role as Pin-Jui as the adult father is Tzi Ma who has starred in many TV series and movies including huge franchises like Rush Hour, and more recently, Lulu Wang’s critically acclaimed The Farewell. He will also be featured in Disney’s forthcoming live-action adaptation of Mulan and in The CW’s reboot of Kung Fu. The Hong Kong-born actor has a very storied career working alongside icons on stage and screen.

This personal passion project is a love letter to Yang’s family and Asian immigrants, whom he noted are facing a particularly difficult time in America due to current events.

Yang stresses that this is a multi generational movie aimed at all cultures and that everyone will relate to the characters struggles, emotions and stories.

I spoke with Alan Yang from his home in Los Angeles to discuss the film and what he hopes audiences will take from it.

TIGERTAIL BEGINS STREAMING ON NETFLIX FRIDAY APRIL 9TH