Happy Birthday Cindy Wei
2013, 11 minutes
dark comedy about the sexual frustrations of an insecure Chinese teenage girl
“Happy Birthday Cindy Wei” is a dark-comedy and unconventional coming-of-age story about an awkward 15-year-old girl plagued by her insecurities and sexual frustrations while she struggles to survive in the vicious world of teenage adolescence. In addition to facing constant humiliation at school, Cindy must deal with an aloof father, an absent mother and the occasional harassment by customers at the family-owned Chinese take-away. It’s not until her older cousin, Michael, starts working at the take-away that Cindy finds a light in the angst-ridden darkness. There’s something different about Michael and it’s not just that he dances in woman’s platform shoes while frying prawns. Cindy unexpectedly finds comfort and guidance in Michael’s flamboyancy and subsequently, in his secret second job as a late night phone sex operator. Through her discovery of Michael’s alternative lifestyle, Cindy is led to discover her own desires and strengths.
Companies involved in this production
Connected mandy members:
Virginia Reina
Art Director
