Stories based on or inspired by true events — that center Asians — are often ignored or given whitewashed treatment, as in the 2008 film 21. It takes an independent studio and team to tell these kinds of stories fully, like Justin Lin’s 2002 film Better Luck Tomorrow and now – Sing J. Lee’s The Accidental Getaway Driver.
Inspired by the actual 2016 abduction of Long Ma, a Vietnamese American taxi driver from Orange County, by three prison escapees, The Accidental Getaway Driver details Ma’s (Hiep Tran Nghia) experience as well as his unexpected bond with one of the escapees, Tay Duong (an unrecognizable and captivating Dustin Nguyen). The film also stars Dali Benssalah, Phi Vu, Gabrielle Chan, Vivien Ngô, and Cathy Vu.
After premiering at Sundance 2023 – with Lee winning the Directing Award US Dramatic for the film, The Accidental Getaway Driver will have its theatrical release on February 27 in limited theaters.
The film will be shown at four AMC locations: Monterey Park (CA), New York City, Orange County (CA), and San Jose (CA), — with more to be announced — from February 27 through March 2. It will be shown with Vietnamese subtitles as well as standard English subtitles.
Check out the trailer below:
