In-person: Q&A with filmmakers Julie Ha, Eugene Yi.

Admission is free. No advance reservations. Free tickets must be obtained on a first come, first served basis at the box office, where seating will be assigned.

Free Chol Soo Lee

U.S., 2022

In 1970s San Francisco, 20-year-old Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee is convicted of a Chinatown gang murder he did not commit. While Lee is serving a life sentence, a journalist takes a special interest in his case and writes a series of stories that inspire Asian Americans to rally to free him, starting a movement that unites the community like never before. But once out, Lee struggles to live up to his newfound status as a symbol, and his demons ultimately threaten to destroy the legacy of the movement and the man himself. Combining rich archival footage, firsthand accounts, and narration drawn from personal writings, this poignant documentary paints an intimate portrait of the complex man at the center of a movement. Highlighting the radical power of activism paired with a scathing critique of the criminal justice system, Free Chol Soo Lee serves as an urgent reminder that his legacy is more relevant than ever.

Following the film, the filmmakers Julie Ha and Eugene Yi will speak about their relationship to the case and their filmmaking journey. They will be joined by activists who were involved in the Free Chol Soo Lee campaign, a member of the formerly incarcerated Asian American community, and a representative of the UCLA Korean American Student Association.

DCP, color, 83 min. Director: Julie Ha, Eugene Yi.

Presented with the UCLA Asian American Studies Center(opens in a new tab). Special thanks to our community partners: UCLA Documentary Film Legal Clinic(opens in a new tab), UCLA Asian American Studies Department(opens in a new tab), UCLA Korean American Student Association(opens in a new tab), UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs(opens in a new tab), UCLA Nikkei Student Union(opens in a new tab).

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