Bad Axe is about a Cambodian family’s struggle during the pandemic in small-town Michigan. The name of the movie Bad Axe comes from the city’s name.
The story was captured by filmmaker David Siev when he decided to spend lockdown time with his family in Bad Axe, Michigan.
Siev returned home to be with his family in Bad Axe, where he was raised and started filming his family immigrant mix of Mexicans and Cambodians.
Being a filmmaker, Bad Axe might not be a perfect location to shoot a movie with a same-size population of 3,000 people. However, racial hate toward Asians during COVID-19 allowed him to shoot a documentary about his family.
Siev discovered himself in the middle of a major conflict all throughout America, and the documentary is based about mix communities’ struggles during the pandemic time.
What Is Bad Axe About?
Bad Axe is about a family of Asian Americans living in Bad Axe, Michigan.
The documentary depicts the narrative of a failing business during the pandemic and the socio-political change impacting human lives.
The film Bad Axe follows director David Siev and the hardships his family faced during COVID-19. Despite stressful moments the family documentary never loses the gentle feeling it exudes from the first frame.
David’s family faced racism, xenophobia, and other types of criticism. Bad Axe is an inspiring documentary presenting a powerful voice on the verge of a significant social revolution.
Regardless of how difficult things become for mixed-race families, the Siev family eventually stood stern to save the family value and business.
Bad Axe depicts a scenario against the core institutions of the nation that was developed after the Black Lives Matter movement. The passing of George Floyd shook the nation and exposed the injustices that exist within America towards minors.
Bad Axe Movie Trailer and Release Date
According to the production’s official website, the Bad Axe movie has been released in various theaters across the country since October 2022. The movie will be released in the USA on 18 November 2022.
However, it premiered in various film festivals including, the Bendflim festival on 6th October 2022, and Orcas Island Flim Festival on 9th October.
The trailer of the movie starts early in 2020 when the Siev family went on a family cruise followed by the pandemic lockdown. The lockdown completely changed their lives.
The family and their restaurant business faced instability and unreliability in the traditional method of operation. They had to completely rethink their business strategy in light of the public health industry’s ever-changing standards.
The family reunited along with their parents, Chun and Rachel. Meanwhile, parents persist to stay safe at home and don’t want to listen to their children. Raquel must complete her college coursework online. David, who is the director of the movie uses the time to record everything from everything happening around them.
Where To Watch Bad Axe Movie?
Bad Axe can be watched on the streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, and Amazon Prime, and more. It was released in Canada at Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival on 11 November 2022.
Bad Axe reached its audience at Virginia Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, and, Denver International Film Festival on 3 November 2022.
Bad Axe Cast
According to IMDb, the documentary cast are close family members of the Siev family:
- Skyler Janssen
- Michael Meinhold
- Chun Siev
- Jaclyn Siev
- Rachel Siev
- Raquel Siev
- Austin Turmell
It narrates the story of a father from Cambodia pursuing the American dream and unfolds the situation of an Asian-American family during Trump’s presidency.
The documentary, “Bad Axe,” is a breathtaking work of immediacy of the immigrant experience, familial loyalty, and communal cooperation. It will serve as a priceless historical record of these times in addition to being one of the most significant movies of the year. It will be accessible on demand on most significant rental platforms starting on Friday.