One of the highlights at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival this weekend is writer/director David Au’s “Eat with Me.”
This undemanding, low-budget charmer has Emma (Sharon Omi) leaving her husband and moving in with her gay son, Elliot (Teddy Chen Culver). Emma is reluctant to talk about her marital crisis with her son, which is fine, because Elliot has trouble talking to his intense mother. Over the course of this poignant comedy-drama, both Emma and Elliot learn to drop their rigid defenses and each step out of their comfort zones. She takes some ecstasy (albeit accidentally) with Elliot’s wacky neighbor (Nicole Sullivan) and befriends gay icon George Takei (playing himself).
Meanwhile, Elliot finds himself attracted to Ian (Aiden Bristow), a handsome musician. “Eat with Me” is not deep, but it is enjoyable and perfectly suitable for sons and mothers.
Also on the program is writer/director Hieu Tran’s sweet short film, “Squared.” Two men, Tate (Yamil Jaiman) and Wally (Ethan Le Phong), are sexually attracted to one another. However, they also are sexually incompatible; neither will bottom. So they compete, measuring their muscles and other parts of their anatomy to determine if and how they will have sex. Tran’s film is amusing, as these guys with their chiseled chests expose their insecurities, but “Squared” is best when it tackles both gay and racial stereotypes.
“Eat with Me” with “Squared” screens 2:15 p.m. Nov. 15 at International House, 3701 Chestnut St. For tickets and more information, visit www.phillyasianfilmfest.org/.