Whammy! presents TERMINAL USA (1993)(NR)(Sun. 6/30) 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm

Please join WHAMMY! Analog VHS Shop and Microcinema for a VHS Tape Swap on Sunday, June 30, 2024 from 12:00 pm (Noon) until 4:00 pm. Then stay for a presentation of TERMINAL USA at 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm, or 8:30 pm.

TERMINAL USA is a 1994 American satirical black comedy film, written and directed by Jon Moritsugu that explores themes of family, drugs, violence, and Asian American stereotypes. It is now considered a cult film. It is estimated to have had a budget of $360,000.

Terminal USA started out as an entry for a script competition for PBS. The script won $12,000 from that competition and the film was shown on television and created quite an uproar. "I was pushing the envelope trying to get crazy shit on TV," Moritsugu said in an interview. "For a while we thought we were going to get a lawsuit. The producer said, ‘Let's work it. This is our publicity." After filming was complete, Moritsugu described the process as "the most disgusting, worst way to make a movie, with that much money and that many people around." When people were questioning the National Endowment for the Arts for funding projects considered controversial, Terminal USA was one of the films used as an example for one of the controversial projects funded. The film's controversy continued when it aired on PBS in 1994, and only 150 of the 210 PBS stations agreed to air it.

The film premiered at Rotterdam Film Festival on February 2, 1994, and played at numerous other film festivals, winning awards at Rotterdam and the Toronto International Film Festival. A censored version premiered on television on November 23, 1994, which blurred some gory images and bleeped out some words: even words that were completely appropriate for television, because Moritsugu wanted to make a statement about censorship. A completely uncensored 57 minute version of the film was first screened in 1995 at the San Francisco Cinematheque. Terminal USA was almost put on Japan/US flights for Northwest Airlines, but they decided against it at the last minute. It was released on DVD in 2009.

When the film debuted, David Rooney of wrote, "this rambunctious volley of flagrantly tasteless humor could whip up a minor cult following, especially in the U.K. and Europe" and added that "frivolous sex and gore content is far from explicit, and hard to take offense at." Ken Tucker described the film as "intentionally ugly and crude: it focuses on a squabbling, drug-taking Asian-American clan that gives new meaning to the term dysfunctional". In the Los Angeles Times, Howard Rosenberg wrote that the film is an "amusing, self-bleeping, self-mocking soap opera whose politically incorrect Asian family communicates mostly through ribaldry and spermspeak", and made reference to the public funding controversy by mentioning that "some members of Congress need to rethink their notion of public TV".

In her book Making Asian American Film and Video: History, Institutions, Movements, Jun Okada describes the film as "an acerbic, black satire about a Japanese American family on the verge of post-apocalyptic meltdown", and that "unlike the serious historical documentaries that form the basis for the genre [of Asian American films], Terminal USA delves in abject imagery and parody in order to emphasize the absurdity of 'positive image'." Mike Hale, writing for the , echoed that thought: compared to the sitcom that debuted shortly after, Terminal USA is a "much more entertaining and in its way much more authentic depiction of Asian-American family life — a view from the inside that made its way onto television and gleefully trashed the notion of Asian-Americans as a 'model minority'."

THIS IS AN INDOOR CINEMA EXHIBITION. PLEASE PURCHASE ONE (1) TICKET PER PERSON.

ONE (1) admission ticket is required PER PERSON! If tickets are not available on Eventbrite, please purchase your tickets at the box office on the day of the event.

FAQ's

WHAT TIME DOES THE MOVIE START?

TERMINAL USA starts on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm.

WHAT TIME CAN I ARRIVE?

Attendees will be allowed to enter the auditorium up to 30 minutes prior to show time.

WHERE DO I PARK?

Free parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to the Gardena Cinema on the north side.

WHERE IS GARDENA CINEMA?

Gardena Cinema is located at 14948 Crenshaw Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249.

HOW DO I REDEEM MY TICKET?

Upon purchase, ticket will be emailed to you as a PDF attachment from Eventbrite. When you arrive to the event, please show the entrance attendant the bar code on your ticket at the entrance to the cinema, either by holding up your printed version, or by displaying it on your phone or smart device. Attendant will scan it to check you in, and you'll be good to go into the auditorium!

CAN I BRING FOOD / SNACKS?

NO! This is an indoor screening. Please do not bring outside food or drinks inside the cinema. Tasty refreshments and fresh popped popcorn will be sold at the cinema snack bar.

WILL YOU HAVE RESTROOMS?

YES! Gardena Cinema's lobby, snack bar, and restrooms will be open.

MAY I BRING MY PET WITH ME?

Sorry, PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE ACTUAL CINEMA BUILDING, (where restrooms and snack bar are located).

WILL YOU BE HOSTING MORE OF THESE?

YES! We intend to continue curating and programming some of the BEST cinema in Los Angeles County! We provide both an intimate Drive-In style setting, as well as traditional indoor cinema experiences. Please support by following us on Instagram and Facebook -- we'll keep you posted on our screenings and events! @GardenaCinema

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Event Venue

Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Boulevard, Gardena, United States