MANEKI | Full Lesbian Short Film
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- Aiko, a young cashier working at a ramen restaurant, gets rejected by Jean, Aiko’s favorite regular. But when Jean returns to the restaurant and tries to bridge the gap, Aiko must reconcile her feelings as their relationship enters uncharted territory.
Official Selection
Austin Film Festival
Outfest Fusion
Asian American International Film Festival
San Diego Asian Film Festival
Boston Asian American Film Festival
Santa Monica International Film Festival
If you ask someone out, and you get rejected, can you still be friends? That's the question we sought to answer with this cute, light-hearted coming-of-age film.
Starring
Iris Liu as Aiko / irisliuofficial
Elsie Wang as Jean / elsielwang
Garth Sodetani as Ricky / kidtani
Cory Wong as a customer / cswongphoto
Directed by Brandon Okumura / brandokumura
Written by Maggie Wong / maggarino
Story by Maggie Wong, Brandon Okumura, and Katherine Tran / k_tran
Produced by Leon Cheo / leoncheo
Cinematography by Jucel Andrin / jucelandrin_
1st AD - Austin Quon / quonfucious
1st AC - Isaiah Walk / isaiahwalk_dp
Gaffer - Jamon Tolbert / jamon.tolbert
Key Grip - Christian Kim / christian_kiim
G/E Swing - Brendan Yoo / _brendan.yoo_
Sound Mixing and Sound Design - Marcos Castro / mantonitro
Production Design - Grace Kim / msgracekim
Art PA - Danielle Kim / danielle_daeun
PA/Runner/2nd AC - Riley Okumura / itsrileyokay
Location - My Ramen Bar / myramenbar
#gayfilm #bisexual #lesbian #shortfilm #comedy #drama #lgbtq #lgbtqfilm #queer #romance #rejection #relationships #gaypanic #ramen #4k #asianamerican #okiemedia
![[ENG SUB] 적중률100% | 100% Accuracy | Lesbian drama](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k_UeAC5Z59Y/mqdefault.jpg)
If you have any questions about the making of the film, or if you want to hear more about it came together, comment below! Thanks for watching 🙂
apenas queria dizer que amei esta produção!
Thank you for the movie. What does MANEKI mean?
"That was the most painful thing I've ever witnessed". Me too Ricky. Me too.
😅😅😅
It was painful watching him watch in the background
AF 😅😅😅😅😅
@@whalium889FOR REAL, I already knew something was up with hi,
i was cringing so HARD lmfao
My favorite line "please don't sue us"
I just find it so funny how Asian women act so fake with like every other ethnicity male or female but then try to make them look Genuine
Mine too
Yeah it was funny
The tension, the awkwardness, the gay panic, the sibling dynamic. The writer did a great job and the acting was perfect. Thank you for making a queer short film Brandon! This is a dream to watch! I’d love to know your thoughts behind the project!
🥺❤
@@maggiewong6453we need more Asian queer representation, this short story meant a lot to me❤ thank you for this wholesome story, maggie.
@@vincyagainI'm so happy to hear that
I'm so glad you liked it! It was a labor of love from everyone involved. I've thought about producing some kind of commentary about the production at some point, so perhaps that's in the future!
This was such a lovely piece of natural film storytelling. I would be very interested to know how you came to make it and the stories of the people involved. It feels almost totally improvisational within a given framework. Thank you to you all.
I love how you didn't push for an ending that would've felt too rushed given their situation. I loved that it ended just when it did. Great job!
The start of a beautiful friendship 😊
@@brandonokumurano its gay i saw the next one
WHEREEE@@littlepig4596
@@brandonokumura huh
@@brandonokumura what
I really like how understanding ricky was. I thought he was gonna be a stereotypical homophobic male but he let her know that asking someone out was simply unprofessional. not wrong. We all need a supportive friend like this. Me and my girlfriend had a rocky relationship because we were both in middle school. i was afraid to tell my friends because i thought they would think I was weird, my middle school brain couldn't process the fact that we were all bi and it wasn't weird.
wow, the awkward silence was so LOUD! I have goose bumps!
That was very awkward. She asked her out in a nice way. She said let’s be friends. To be honest if somebody would ask me out, I would not know what to say but that came out nice the way she said it to thumbs up 👍 👍for that short film. Love it you guys are awesome keep it up you’re doing a good job.
Thank you!
Thank you 😊 🙏
Thank you 🙏
wow. i related to this on a deep molecular level. i, too, am a queer asian who got rejected by a really great friend of mine 😭😭😭😭😭 we’re still friends so everything turned out okay
Thank you so much for this! Genuinely, on behalf of the lesbian community, it means the world to have more short film representation. The camera work and acting was beautiful and natural 🤍
Thank you for your kind words and for watching!! 😊
6 seasons and a movie, NOW
finally a short film that actually feels like a short movie. The acting was good and the storyline too. I got taken away in it. Not trying to hate on other short films, but the bad acting often distracts me and doesnt make me feel like i belong in the story
I loved it. Not the typical short film where they both start dating by the end rather this was slow and calm, showing the process of their journey.
Looked so natural and heart warming... felt warmness inside every single dialogues... really an unexpected find for me. Really gives of so many emotions in every frames. Looking forward for your next work.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you connected to our story 🙂
We all need a Ricky in our lives.
In ricky we trust
@@that-one3408 #rickyisdagoat
Agree
the storyline was creative and the acting was perfect
Thank you! The actors were all so great, I agree!
this was honestly very heartfelt and cute.
Thank you for watching!
ngl i like to avoid awkward situations as much as possible, so as soon as Aiko was rejected I almost gave up watching, for I powered thru and it's good that I did because this was really really good, kudos everybody who made this project possible.
Relationships sometimes do need to grow; it’s not all wham, bam, thank you ma’am. A beautiful story, performed by two talented lead actors. Well done!
Aiko is the definition of gay panic
I've been told that as well 🙂 thanks for watching!
This was written and acted so naturally by everyone. These feel like real people having real conversations. Good job everryone!
this is absolutely DELIGHTFUL. i could feel everything Aiko was feeling, from the longing to the awkward to the mop in her hands, and I felt like she and Jean and Ricky were all going places I've lived before with work and life and friendship. Beautiful to watch, great story, great acting. Thank you all!
What a wonderful short story! I wanted to say thank you for making this film, as a lesbian I dont really get to see stories about my type of love very often and definitely not high quality and heart-warming like this one. So a HUGE THANK YOU for everybody involved in this❤
ricky is so funny xD "please dont sue us!" ^.^
This was so cute 🥹🥹 just some cute lil loser lesbian doing cute lil lesbian things ❤ thank you for making this, we need more cute wlw stories like this!
Thank you for watching and so glad your enjoyed it!! We wanted it to be a light and cute story 😊
HOW IS THIS NOT TRENDING YET???
Share with your friends! Thanks for watching
i wanna know if the ramen was kinda a metaphor for dating a girl, shes never tried it, but she would only want to with Aiko, or am i reading to deep into it lol?
No I don’t think so… I think u could be right 😮, this is a good theory
I mean... i kinda felt that too in the end, but it feels kinda dubious now, i feel like it would be too good to be true
oohh no that's probably it, that's a good theory
i actually liked that it wasn’t necessarily a romance, but just showed how a girl had a crush on a girl and how there is rejection and crushing on a straight girl that you thought was gay too (literally me today 😭)
This is so good. You all nailed it and the awkwardness and embarrassment is so real it dredged up memories that made it doubly worse! Fantastic. Congratulations - especially to the painfully believable Iris and Elsie.
5:46 **Ankward silence**
I CAN'T-
That was...yeah hahaha
the finger touching while handing over the card was so real
I liked that you put [awkward silence] because it felt hahaha. I loved your work, that of the scriptwriters, the actresses and the actor, everything was incredible! 🥺❤️
loved it! but the tension was soooo suffocating T_T was too early for me to witness this sort of tension
Thank you! The awkward tension is off the charts!
soo wholesome I cant literally 🤌🏻😭really well written and the actors did a great job!
3:50 literally is how I feel when something didn’t go how I planned with a girl. I loved this sm
Very well done piece all around. It drew me all the way through and the open-ended ending was near perfect. Believable and not contrived. Iris Liu was exceptional.
The ending ahhh I love this sm, it was painful but overall super sweet
I really love this Short, you went for realistic ending and made it more heartwarming in process. To have all of sudden have Jean fall head over heels in love with Aiko just wouldn't feel warranted. She's just come out of relationship with her boyfriend and her work is important to her. Plus If it ever does happen between them it will take time. But it might not happen at all but at least Aiko has someone who be loving friend to her. I like that she never judges or shuns Aiko for what she did.
I like the character of Jean. She's a lonely young woman, who's just lost and alone. She sees the ramen restaurant as second home from home, somewhere where Aiko and Ricky are welcoming and warm to her. Something she clearly needs in her life at that point. As she said the food is nice but it's the company she needs the most.
Such a sweet short film. You could have gone for that fluffy ending of Jane falling for Aiko but it would have felt false.
Also Ricky rocks. One of funniest characters I've seen in a short film in recent times.
Ricky: please dont sue us!.. 💀
the east asian culture always can hold a subtle feeling of ambiguity，careful， hint， the heart pounding under the silence
Ricky was funny as heck!
So relatable!! Love this kind of content. Can’t wait to see more. Just subscribed ❤
Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for subscribing!
The shots, the zooming in and music when they held hands, you really made the characters feel like they were their own person, not just an acted figure! Well done!!! 👍
The story was very familiar to me...
Great actors, great story, I really loved it.
Thank you very much!
is, is the ramen metaphor for them dating or I'm just overthinking?
FINALLY, GOOD REPRESENTATION 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
This is how most guys feel every time we ask someone out. But if you don't shoot your shot you never know. What is that old saying, "it is better to have Loved and lost than never Loved at all." Relatable.
This is so so good wow! No music needed whci I respect a lot, great shots, amazing actresses and actor, wow!
So cute, glad I finally got to see this!
Glad you liked it!
Absolutely loved this short film. Amazing work
Thank you so much!
oouuufff, great tension building ;-; the silent moments spoke volumes
That was so good oh my god. It had me kicking my feet and everything.
i am so invested in this dynamic i wish it was a full series or movie 😭😭😭😭😭
this was wonderfull an all fronts, and the cast are lovely... thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was lovely, looking forward to your next projects 😊❤
More to come!
Such a beautiful and heart warming movie 🫶🏻
Thank you for watching :)
aahahdjahgkhag the awkward silence is giving me anxietyyyyy :))
So awk and so cute 😂
Super cute short film. Actors did a great job. 👍👍
The actors did super well, I agree!
I love it this has me giggling and kicking my feet
Thank you！It is so beautiful and such a natural flow to film it，looking forward to see what‘s next☺☺
That was well done, all around. The writing, timing of dialogue, and the awkward silences. Extremely well done. It seems like the perfect pilot to a mini-series, but all on its own, it warmed my heart. As a 70-year-old male, it feels charming to be reminded that love can be that simple! ❤
30 seconds in, she is so me hello?!
Very well told. Compliments to all involved! Thank You.
Okay I need this short film turned into a romcom series on Netflix.
oh my gawdddd this is so cute T-T i can feel the tension....I love this
Glad you enjoyed 😊
Found this little gem 💎…thanks for this !
3 minutes in and i already love it sm aaa
i need more short with this 3 ❤❤ I really love it ALL that was a lot of emotions in a short while. Nice job🎉
Thank you so much!!
I’d watch a whole series with them❤❤❤
Loved it❤
CZcams algorithm finally delivering That Good Content.
The acting! 👌👌👌👌🤌🤌🤌🤌
The actors are great right? Thanks for watching!
The silence was so painful it physically hurt
I wanted to disappear
This is actually so good, the photography looks amazing
a happy Part 2 needed ❤️
Maybe in the future!
That was excellent...
Do a follow-up series please 🙏 💝✨️✨️💝
so good, so beautiful shot. so Meaningful. i love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE NEED A SERIES!!
Is it just me? I don't see a lesbian film here, it's a story of a gay girl and a straight girl becoming friends, nothing more.
There is no uncharted territory, their friendship can continue only if the gay girl gives up her feelings and agrees to be just friends, or else she will either get her heart broken or their friendship will break or both of that.
It's the same in real life, almost every gay girl in the world can tell you a story about having had a crush on a straight girl and pretty much none of these stories have a happy end.
Totally agree. I know the heart break though. Hurts like real hell. That's why I try to stay away from straight girl as much as I possibly can. Although we all know it's inevitable falling for them lol.
Literally just happened to me, I told this girl I liked her and she said she liked being my friend and is still figuring things out about her sexuality
Ironically I'm currently friends with a straight girl I have a huge crush on and it works perfectly well cause she flirts a lot with women, she just doesn't feel the sexual part. I can easily live without the sexual intimacy. So we just chill together, acting as if we were basically in a relationship and I really enjoy it, even though I know she's not really interested in me.
@@desyraychan3408 Hope you're doing okay. Seems like she's still figuring stuff out so you might have a chance lol.
No the other girl is Bi lol 🤩🤭
Aww this is such a sweet story
my heart is full!
Ok , that was good !
All the best Jules 👏🌈
Well written, shot and acted! Loved it!
This is soooo accurate
That was really beautiful! Looking forward to more! Thank you!
awwww i loved it ;--;
Thank you, I'm so glad 😊
omg the way i loveddd this
Ahhhh so cuteeee. Got me all smiley😂
So glad to hear it!
"Please don't sue us"
Ricky's just trying to run his store!
Bad Form on Ricky's part, though!
That was sweet. Thank you!
ugh this is so good
Hey! This is good. Really good. More please!
Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant....
absolutely amazing, I loved this!!!!!
I LOVE THIS!!!
This is so hard core relatable
They are so cuteeee 🥰
I WANT SO MUCH MORE
I love this type of lesbian short film. Almost realistic! Why is it called Maneki tho?
Maneki comes from the Maneki Neko, or the beckoning cat that you see in Asian restaurants. We felt it was a unique title that summed up the themes of the film well!
Wow! I love the idea that comes from it! Looking forward for more short films!@@brandonokumura
@@brandonokumuraAh I see so the cat figurine in every Asian restaurants Ofc that's it No wonder I was thinking about the zoom in shot of the cat figurine at the start of the film I knew something was up with that but not exactly what it is or was that's crazy rly Omg lol now it makes more sense Omg lol!?~😱😩🤩🤭🤦♀️🤦💀☠
If there was a ramen restaurant in Aberdeen, I’d love to try that