Directed by Evan Leong, the 2024 documentary The Bridge tells the history and growth of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community through the lens of East West Bank, a financial institution established in 1973 by leaders in the Los Angeles Chinatown to serve Asian Americans neglected by mainstream banks. The film takes us through various pivotal moments for the Asian American community over the past 50 years. It shows how East West Bank has made a difference on a local and international scale, serving the community while forming a closer bond and deeper understanding between East and West.
Released in May as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, The Bridge explores the multiple personal truths of generations of Asian Americans. It highlights the struggles, but also the successes, of individuals and communities in face of these challenges, whether they be lack of legal banking available to Asian immigrants in the 1960s, or the rise of anti-Asian hate in today’s post-pandemic era.
The documentary also features a collaboration between award-winning musical artists JJ Lin and Anderson .Paak. Their new single “In the Joy,” a great example of East-West musical collaboration, serves as the film’s theme song.
The Bridge is now streaming on Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon Prime.
Banner image via The Bridge.
