Rosie Choo Pidcock’s short film ‘Sorry for Your Cost' will make its New York debut on August 3 at the 48th Asian American International Film Festival, screening in the Shorts: The Kids Turned Out Fine program at Regal Union Square Cinema.
The absurdist dramedy centers on a working-class Chinese family grappling with the high costs of death in the modern funeral industry. Olivia Cheng (‘Warrior,' ‘Marco Polo') leads the cast, which also includes Simon Chin, Lucas Mocchi, Enid-Raye Adams, and newcomer Adeline Lo as Ren.
The story follows Ren, a teenager determined to leave her basement suite and pursue acting school. When her mother dies the same day she’s accepted into a program, she’s forced to choose between her aspirations and paying for the funeral.
Choo Pidcock, who wrote and directed the film, cites personal experiences—including planning her own mother’s funeral and encountering a $30,000 grave listed on Facebook Marketplace—as influences for the script. “These experiences led me to reflect on my own grief rituals,” she said in a statement, calling the film “an offering for those reckoning with the collective grief of our current times.”
The film premiered at the St. John’s International Women in Film Festival and has screened at Reelworld, Disorient, the Seattle Asian American Film Festival, and Chilliwack Independent, where it won Best Script.
Produced by Choo Pidcock under Special Delivery Productions, the film also counts Geoff Manton and Angelica Stirpe (Boldly), and Athena Russell (Wives Entertainment) as producers. Joey Gu and Daniel Cheng (Mimosa Productions) serve as executive producers alongside Olivia Cheng, who also stars. Director of photography is Belen Garcia, with Jordan Andrew on score, Mel Zaini on costumes, Adrianna Marchand on production design, and Isabel Paganine on hair and makeup. Shaun Morse is associate producer.