2020 feels like a lifetime ago. And yet, it was only three years ago when we as a society were faced with a global pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. Frankly, I don’t even like to talk about that time, and I like even less to consume content about it. So when I first heard about Who We Become, an upcoming documentary from Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY, I was apprehensive. We’ve all been through a lot these last few years and it’s not easy to be reminded of it. Yet, I watched the trailer and I’m glad that I did.
Directed by PJ Raval, an award-winning Filipinx-American filmmaker, Who We Become follows three young Filipino women during the pandemic, grappling with not only the impact of the virus on their families, but struggling with how to make a positive and meaningful contribution to their communities following the murder of George Floyd.
It seems to capture the societal and internal conflicts during that time, while also centering the close bond that many Filipino families share. I really appreciated the glimpses in the trailer of the younger Filipino women talking about social justice and protesting with their older family members, and the disconnect that many families face generationally. While stories about that time are difficult to watch, Who We Become seems like the kind of film we need to see.
Who We Become premieres December 1 on Netflix.
About WHO WE BECOME:
WHO WE BECOME follows three young Filipino women grappling with an emerging global pandemic while forging unexpected connections with their families. Discovering themselves in the process. The film is a self-documented time capsule for turbulent times, WHO WE BECOME captures the unbreakable bond between Filipino family and community.
The all Asian-American crewed film had its world premiere earlier this year at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific International Film Festival and is also an official selection of the Austin Asian American Film Festival.
About PJ Raval:
Director PJ Raval is a queer, first generation Filipinx-American award-winning filmmaker who has made waves in the filmmaking industry for over two decades. Previously named as one of Out Magazine’s ‘OUT 100′ and IndieWIRE’s ’25 LGBT Filmmakers on the Rise’, his work examines social justice issues through the voices of queer and marginalized subjects. Raval’s body of work has been distributed widely, internationally, and supported by several prestigious organizations including the Guggenheim Foundation, Bertha Foundation, Arcus Foundation, Sundance, Center for Asian-American Media, Tribeca Film Institute, Firelight Media, PBS, and the Ford Foundation. Raval is a 2015 Guggenheim Fellow, 2016 Firelight Media Fellow, 2017 Robert Giard Fellow, a 2021 Soros Justice Fellow, a Producers Guild of America member and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
