Anthony Ma says he was born (1988) and raised in Arcadia. He has had a recurring role in this season’s hit TV series “Scandal” and this week he is the romantic lead in a movie playing in the Los Angeles Asia Pacific Film Festival called “Love Arcadia.”
Cast l-r: Anthony Ma, Clint Jung, Michelle Farah Huang, Arvin Lee, Lana McKissick
But Gan and Chiu said tonight it was their visits to Arcadia more than a decade ago to find good Chinese food and tea that eventually led to the story. They adored a boba shop in Arcadia — Gan recalled it as being called Lollicup (now in the Westfield Santa Anita mall but he says the one he frequented was near the Din Tai Fung Dumpling House further south on Baldwin Avenue) — and when they returned ten years later they were struck by how this little shop was still there despite all the changes around it.
Lawrence Gan, left; Theresea Chiu, right
The young man, Jake, meets the no-nonsense daughter of the developer, Joanna, whom he remembers as a childhood playmate daughter of the woman baker next to his parent’s boba shop. Their meeting sparks long-dormant memories for Joanna about her late mother whom her father refuses to discuss.
“Love Arcadia’ is a remarkable independent film given the relative inexperience of most of the cast and crew — it’s the first feature film for co-star Michelle Farrah Huang, for director Gan, and for Chiu. And yet the writing, directing, acting, and even the piano-driven score are top-notch — this is one of the best films I have seen this year. The relationships and dialogue are all convincing and the humor and romance really work well. Even though the dynamics, characters, and story are all a little cookie-cutter — the like-able over-the-top goofball friend of Jake; the father-pleasing young lady whose steely resolve is quickly broken down by the down-to-earth and simple charms of Jake; the little underdog business owner going up against the big, bad corporate developer; the lovable relatives who have just the right sage wisdom to impart, etc. — nothing ever slides into becoming too corny or silly.
Audience Monday night.
For Arcadians, the only disappointment is that, with the exception of the first couple of shots of a peacock and a sign reading “City of Homes” (usually it’s “Community of Homes”), there is not a single shot in the actual town of Arcadia – not even the mountain overlook where Santa Anita Park racetrack should be clearly visible below. Gan and Chiu said it was shot in Alhambra, and the primary retail center used was ironically bulldozed by a developer within six weeks of the end of filming. Nonetheless, the name Arcadia gets plenty of love with numerous mentions about what an ideal place it is to live.
— By Scott Hettrick