DaDump Is Telling Y’All To Check This Film Out… The Air I Breathe
April 30th, 2007 by dd
Why you may ask?
Because DaDump has seen this film grow like a child since its infancy… because the writer, director Jieho Lee was a former classmate, invaluable wingman, and trusted confidante… because the film has a kick-ass cast including Academy Award winner, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Emile Hirsch, Kelly Hu, John Cho to name a few… because DaDump read the script years ago and was floored… because it’s Jieho’s first feature film and it’s debuting at the Tribeca Film Festival this week… because it will be worth your time and money and you will thank DaDump profusely afterwards… and because you’re now in the know so impress your friends with your newfound knowledge on this sleeper hit; you’ll be the coolest kid on the block when this film gets released…
Writer/ Director Jieho Lee
The Air I Breathe is based on a Chinese proverb with four interwoven stories that are based on the four emotional cornerstones of life: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. Think Crash meets Pulp Fiction meets nothing you’ve ever seen before so get ready to get blown away.
If you’re in New York this week, then this is the schedule for the Film Festival:
- Sun, Apr 29, 6:00pm @ BMCC TribecaPAC Theater 1 | $25
- Mon, Apr 30, 7:30pm @ AMC 34th Street Theater 11 | $18
- Fri, May 4, 6:00pm @ BMCC TribecaPAC Theater 1 | $18
- Sat, May 5, 9:00pm @ AMC Kips Bay Theater 11 | $18
Read a more in-depth synopsis of the film and of the director after the jump!
Forest Whitaker in his first film since his Academy Award win!
The Air I Breathe Synopsis:
A businessman (Forest Whitaker) bets his life on a horse race, a gangster (Brendan Fraser) sees the future, a pop star (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falls prey to a crime boss (Andy Garcia) and a doctor (Kevin Bacon) must save the love of his life. Based on a Chinese proverb, these four overlapping stories dramatize the four emotional cornerstones of life: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love.
Forever linked together by ruthless crime boss Fingers (Andy Garcia) and a series of unpredictable twists of fate, the characters of The Air I Breathe weave together in an existential study in luck, both good and bad. Director Jieho Lee divides this vast tale into four distinct threads: a timid businessman (Forest Whitaker) bets his life on a horse race after he discovers the fix is in; a fragile pop star (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finds her management contract unexpectedly in jeopardy; a gangster (Brendan Fraser) who sees the future must decide whether to follow his visions; and a doctor (Kevin Bacon) tries to save the love of his life from a deadly injury. As the world keeps spinning and these individual tales give way to hidden connections and underlying similarities, The Air I Breathe uses this unlikely mix of drama and characters to dramatize an ancient Chinese proverb that evokes life’s four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. It’s when these four overlapping stories come to a head, however, and these emotions unexpectedly surface, collide and explode, that the movie suggests our destiny—whether it is steeped in sweet sorrow or tragic happiness—may ultimately be something we bring on ourselves. Lee fluidly maneuvers between the storylines, letting the pieces fall together organically until the final climax. The phenomenal ensemble cast, including Julie Delpy and Emile Hirsch, moves through all the twists and turns with ease as the cleverly constructed vignettes unite in an emotionally resonant whole.
Writer/ Director Jieho Lee Biography:
Korean-American JIEHO LEE was born in New York City in 1973. Upon graduating from Wesleyan University, he began work as an editor at a small production house and within six months was directing retail spots for Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Victoria’s Secret. His short film, A Nursery Tale, screened in 2000 at the Sundance Film Festival, the South by Southwest Film Festival, the LA VC Film Festival, and the Florida International Film Festival, winning the Audience Award for short film at both the Pusan International Film Festival and the LA VC Film Festival. Lee then earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and moved to Seoul, Korea, where he directed music videos and commercials for the Asian markets. He relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his first feature project, The Air I Breathe.
Posted in Uncategorized | 
April 30th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
[…] As mentioned yesterday, The Air I Breathe premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Starring an all star cast of stars including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Forest Whitaker, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Kelly Hu, Emile Hirsch and Kevin Bacon, first time writer/ director Jieho Lee showed up with his wife on the red carpet. […]
April 30th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
[…] As mentioned yesterday, The Air I Breathe premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Starring an all star cast of stars including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Forest Whitaker, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Kelly Hu, Emile Hirsch and Kevin Bacon, first time writer/ director Jieho Lee showed up with his wife on the red carpet. […]