Post Concussion

Wednesday, November 20, 2003 – 7:30pm
USA 1999. Director: Daniel Yoon

Post Concussion is the story of a young San Francisco management consultant named Matthew Kang whose life changes dramatically following a motor vehicle accident. Matt (played by Daniel Yoon) gets hits by a car. He experiences a brain injury and then can’t seem to shake splitting headaches and disabling difficulties with his memory and concentration. In short order, he loses his job and his girl friend (played by actor Niloufar Talebi) and is then forced to endure humiliating interactions with an insurance adjuster and medical specialist. Eventually, with the help of his East German neighbour Monica (Jennifer Welch), Matt emerges from a variety of New Age cures to reclaim his life. The most remarkable aspect of Post Concussion is not that it manages to remain a charming film about a serious medical condition. What’s most remarkable is that its lead actor, writer, director, producer, cinematographer and editor were all the same individual – former management consultant Daniel Yoon who made this debut film while recuperating from his own serious head injury. Thanks to Yoon’s disarming acting style and script, Post Concussion is an odd mix of insight and deadpan hilarity, and most of all, a good-natured and unpretentious act of self-mockery. Winner of the prestigious Taos Land Grant Award for BEST FEATURE FILM, the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival’s award for OUTSTANDING EMERGING DIRECTOR, and the AUDIENCE AWARD at the Toronto International Reel Asian Film Festival.
Colour, BetaSP, 82 mins.

The program will include a post-screening discussion with:
Daniel Yoon, the tour de force behind Post Concussion. Daniel will discuss the multiple roles involved in bringing his first feature film to the screen, as well as his personal experiences which inspired Post Concussion.

Evening moderated by:
Dr. Harry Karlinsky Director of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.

Co-sponsored by the Lower Mainland Brain Injury Association