Written and Directed by Ann Hu
Starring Zhu Zhu, Helen Slater, Harmonie He, Li Yanan, George Christopher and Amy Irving

The Story

How far would a mother go to reverse her child’s fate? Based on writer/director Ann Hu’s story, that’s the question facing Lan (Zhu Zhu), who travels with her 9-year-old daughter Meimei (Harmonie He) from their small town in China to New York City.

Inflicted with a learning disability, Meimei is considered a strange and dumb girl, an outcast in her school and community. What no one recognizes, however, is that she possesses a gift waiting to be unlocked. The world seen through her eyes is unique and filled with magic. When her mother learns that Meimei suffers from dyslexia, as do 1 in 10 people worldwide, she will stop at nothing to help her, including leaving her life in China behind and venturing alone with Meimei to New York City, braving a place she knows nothing about and speaking not a word of English.

Their pursuit of the impossible is a rollercoaster, impacted by the numerous people who come into their lives and affect their journey along the way, including Helen (AMY IRVING), a wheelchair user, outspoken writer who reluctantly takes them in. Navigating schools for a recent immigrant requiring learning accommodations presents unique challenges, and ultimately Lan’s low-wage factory job and visiting immigrant status endanger Meimei’s acceptance at a special school. What Lan and Meimei discover, is that in a world where people are judged and often not seen, their courage to believe in themselves against all odds will eventually lead them to people who do see them for who they truly are.

Written, produced, and directed by award-winning New York-based filmmaker ANN HU, based on her own experiences, CONFETTI looks at the often-silent struggles faced by so many immigrant families. Featuring an affecting performance by Zhu Zhu, a steely and strong-willed turn by Amy Irving, and a delightful debut from young Harmonie He, CONFETTI shows that amongst a deluge of challenges, a sprinkling of hope, heart, and determination can help make sense of a confusing world and our place in it.

Writer, producer and director Ann Hu's 35mm debut Shadow Magic was one of the top box office hits in China and won both the Chinese Academy Award and Presidential Award in China for Best Film among other international prizes. The film premiered at the 2000 Sundance film Festival and was released by Sony Classics in 2001. Following the success of Shadow Magic, Ann Hu directed and produced Beauty Remains.  After a successful festival run, the film was released theatrically by Emerging Pictures in 2005 and was also a top performer in China.

Director’s Statement

I became a mom fifteen years ago. My baby girl was such a little living wonder that she never failed to wow me.

I can still remember the day when I left China for America, with an urgency to find a school that could teach children with dyslexia, a learning disability that was unheard of in China, but crippled the future of millions of children around the world.

Along my journey, I encountered many parents and children with similar struggles from all around America, China and the world. And I heard their stories. I was humbled by their experiences and determination, and shocked by how big the dyslexic population is (about 10-30%) internationally, and how little the world understands dyslexia, and how amazingly gifted these people are, and how few, even today, of us know that we have the tools to overcome it with proper guidance at an early age!

I learned this was a universal story. I began to write about what I saw, which became this film today.