One of the coolest things about SXSW is the chance to see new and innovative works among the episodic pilot presentations.
One such pilot, Parked in America, by creator/showrunner Kayla Yumi Lewis, stands out among many other worthy efforts.
Parked in America follows the journey of Jamie Park, played here by newcomer Judy Song, who moves in with her extended family in Illinois after leaving Seoul following a family trauma.
Jamie, the name she uses to make her new American friends more comfortable, does her best to keep her head down during her three-week stay with her awkward new family.
Jamie must go to a new high school with her humorless cousin during her forced vacation before finally returning to her family in Korea.
When the three-week stint inevitably turns into more, Jamie has to do her best to make sense of it all.
Kayla Yumi Lewis explores many extremely relevant themes in her pilot including the causal racism and microaggressions of Jamie’s new classmates, as well as the good-natured but ultimately passive-aggressive aunt and uncle who encourage assimilation over cultural pride. Jamie’s one ally is her grandmother who thankfully lives nearby and extends a helping hand along with a much-needed pot of kimchi which she boasts, “Goes with everything!”
Judy Song does a great job playing a fish out of water without being afraid or weak.
While obvious differences in culture are pointed out, Jamie is still a teenager who speaks perfect English, so the pilot doesn’t waste too much time employing over-used foreign exchange student tropes.
Even as the new kid in school she more than holds her own with her peers and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. It’s pointed out that school is much harder in Korea than in the US, so catching up on the work will be relatively easy for her.
Some of the deeper moments in Parked in America come from how alone Jamie feels. It would be impossible for anyone who ever experienced family trauma not to sympathize with what Jamie is going through. I am interested to see more of Parked in America as well as any other projects Kayla Yumi Lewis ends up creating down the line.
* * * * *
Produced by Ann Swenson, Cole Bannick, Jori Johnson, Alexandro Pacheco
Written by Kayla Yumi Lewis
Directed by Luke Salin, Kayla Yumi Lewis
Starring Judy Song, Jeff Lawless, Solomon Abell, Ella Baker-Smith,
Judy Han, Jim Cairl, Lexi Perkel, MeeWha Alana Lee
