the house of suh now available on dvd

All right. You've got to watch this documentary. The award-winning true crime documentary The House of Suh, directed by Iris K. Shim, is now available on DVD. If you missed it on the film festival circuit, and missed it on television, this is your chance to watch it on your own time.

I've been talking about this film for the better part of a year, and recently watched it again just the other night. Man, this is one hell of a documentary. It's a riveting, extremely well-made film that delves into the hows and whys of one of Chicago's most notorious murders.

But more than just recounting the circumstances of the case, at its heart, it's a horribly true tale about shattered American dreams, cultural assimilation and the complex family story behind a shocking crime that's anything but black and white. Here's the trailer:



And here's the synopsis:

Yoon Myung and Tai Sook Suh immigrated to America for a better life for their children, Andrew and Catherine. But their pursuit of happiness quickly became riddled with misfortune, culminating on September 25, 1993, when Andrew shot and killed his older sister's fiancé of eight years, Robert O'Dubaine, at Catherine's bidding.

Those closest to Andrew expressed shock and disbelief: how could a young man with a promising future allow himself to be convinced into committing murder? As the Suh's complex history unfolds, issues of cultural assimilation, traditional values and justice are examined, raising questions of guilt, innocence and the illusive gray area in between.

If you caught the MSNBC broadcast of The House of Suh, that was actually a shorter version edited for television. This DVD features the full version, and includes additional interviews and home videos, as well as a Q&A from one their screenings earlier this year.

You can order the DVD online here for $20. You can also purchase the educational/library edition for your institution. (Students! Demand that your school library add this film to its collection!)

For those of you in Philadelphia, you can catch a free screening of The House of Suh this week, presented by the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. It's happening Friday, September 9 at The Prince Music Theater. Director Iris Shim and producer Gerry Kim will be in attendance. For more information about the film, go to The House of Suh website here.