Ralph B. Peña

Movies

Clifford Odets in Staten Island
Building on the critically-acclaimed success of SOPHOCLES IN STATEN ISLAND, Obie-winner and Ma-Yi affiliated artist Ron Domingo, along with his charming family, move beyond the Greeks to embrace the social protest theater of American playwright Clifford Odets. This time, the homeschooled teenage kids are studying the U.S. Labor Market using the plays of Clifford Odets as the take-off points. The results are both eye-opening and hilarious, as the family comes to grips with its place on the labor pecking order.
Vancouver
Director
A mixed race couple living in Vancouver contemplate a move back to Japan, the husband’s native country. This sometimes tender, sometimes bracingly raw family drama is brought to life through intricate marionettes and carefully orchestrated camerawork. While the characters may be played by puppets, the emotional resonance is recognizably human.