The Banana In Me
9:52 mins
Australia
Feb 17, 2024
In Competition
“Yellow on the outside, white on the inside.”
The Banana In Me follows the story of Qin Ke Chen – a 17 year old Chinese Australian girl whose dream is to become an actor. However, as she is confronted with disapproval of her artistic aspirations from her Asian Immigrant mother, and racist typecasting as an Asian Australian actress, she questions her place both in the film industry and western society.
One day, Qin Ke stumbles upon a peculiar commercial on TV, advertising a product called ‘Blondie’ – a blonde wig that is supposedly the solution to solving typecasting in the film industry for actors of colour. She is influenced to buy ‘Blondie’, only to once again be met with a new wave of insecurities, and repeat the cycle of cultural conflict.
Under the guise of its satirical style, The Banana In Me, at its heart, is a vulnerable insight into the burdens of existing under the label of a ‘Banana’; exploring the trials and tribulations and beauty of the Asian Australian experience.
Rosey Feng – Writer / Director / “Qin Ke Chen “
Ling Yan-“Mother“
About
Rosey Feng
Rosey Feng is an aspiring filmmaker from Melbourne, Australia. "The Banana In Me" was the first film she directed, and she felt honoured to have it screened at DCIFF, allowing a wider audience to engage in its conversation. Inspired by her own complex cultural relationship between her Asian and Australian identity, she created her short film by exploring the themes of intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and racism. This creative process emboldened her to continue a legacy that sought to create societal change through expressing her vulnerability. Her short film was not only an examination of the insecurities, burdens, and conflicts embedded within her Asian Australian experience but also a raw reflection of her journey to self-acceptance—creating a piece of herself that could never be fully articulated in words.