Food Roots
Documentarian Michele Josue (Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine) trains her camera on famed Chicago restaurateur Billy Dec as he journeys to the Philippines to rediscover his ancestral heritage one delicious recipe at a time.
Director Michele Josue and Producer Mike McNamara scheduled to attend.
Attend the May 10 screening for a chance to win tickets to the Wing Luke Museum, the only pan-Asian Pacific American community-based museum in the United States, and prizes from Saint Bread and Tivoli!
Continue your Filipino culinary exploration after the May 11 screening, when Hood Famous Bakery will be giving away coupons for free drip coffee from their bakery/cafe in the International District!
Tickets
Select showtime for pricing and tickets.
Saturday, May 11, 2024
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
Monday, May 20 - Monday, May 27, 2024
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
*Restricted to audiences in WA State.
Food Roots tells a story of connection to oneself and family. Billy Dec’s genetics (Caucasian and Filipino) lead to him being wedged between two worlds. When trials arise, Dec pushes himself and becomes a Chicago icon so he can care for his family. But after another trial in the death of a beloved lola (Tagalog for “grandmother”) from cancer, he realizes his Filipino roots have withered, as his focus was on assimilating into the white world. From his youth, Filipino food has been integral in Dec’s family. With only one lola alive, he decides to travel to the Philippines to revive his roots. Dec aims to learn her recipes and keep traditions alive before she passes. With scenes filmed by Dec of a previous trip to the Philippines woven in, he comes to a realization on this new trip, which his high school yearbook quote from his lolo (Tagalog for “grandfather”) summarizes perfectly: “You don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’re from.” While in the Philippines, he reconnects with relatives all across the country, eventually reuniting with his last lola. All along the way, Filipino cuisine helps direct Dec’s rediscovery of deep-rooted hospitality, family ties, and his true story.
—Joshua Ray Amiling
- Director: Michele Josue
- Principal Cast: Billy Dec, Leilani Castro, Celia Bumanglag Dec, Stacey Efstathiou, Michael Morales
- Country: USA, Philippines
- Year: 2023
- Running Time: 60 min.
- Producer: Apl.de.Ap, Ronnie del Carmen, Becky Magura, Mike McNamara
- Cinematographers: Marcos Durian
- Editors: Michele Josue, Scott Ellerbrook
- Music: Carly Van Skaik
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Nashville Film Festival 2023 (Audience Award)
- Filmography: Nurse Unseen (2023), Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine (2014)
- Language: English