L.A. COFFIN SCHOOL, co-written and directed by Erin Li, is about a once-renowned Chinese painter who is kicked out of her son’s home. This prompts her to enroll in a controversial school that claims to teach people how to start life anew. The instructor and class exercises force her to re-evaluate life and what it is worth. Based on an actual school in South Korea, L.A. Coffin School was inspired partly filmmaker Li’s decision to leave the finance industry (working in Hong Kong and New York) to pursue her passion for filmmaking. The film stars Elizabeth Sung (“Memoirs Of A Geisha”; “Ping Pong Playa”; “Joy Luck Club”), Michelle Krusiec (“Saving Face”; “Made In Taiwan“), Megan Lee (YouTube music sensation), Jerry Ying (NINJA SAY WHAT?!) and Angela Ai (AVENUE Q on Broadway).

Here’s more on the film from director Erin Li

While conducting research for this film, I came across numerous articles and studies that shed light on the high suicide rate among elderly Asian women in the U.S. The causes range from acculturation stress and language barriers to poverty, illness, weakened family support and social isolation. Asian Americans as a whole are the least likely demographic group to seek treatment for mental illness. Shame and cultural stigmas against acknowledging mental illness play a major role. Interestingly enough, there are actual “coffin academies” in existence. Large conglomerates in South Korea have enrolled employees in coffin academies as part of the company’s orientation activities. This may be a way to remedy and address the high suicide rate in the country.

My goal with L.A. COFFIN SCHOOL is to tell the stories of elderly Asian immigrants and bring more awareness to these issues. I hope that the film will also continue the dialogue on Asian Americans and mental illness. I am currently working on the feature adaptation of L.A. COFFIN SCHOOL.

L.A. Coffin School Trailer