New Muslim Cool

After an attempt to bring Syrian refugees into the predominately white New England town of Rutland, Vermont, unleashes deep partisan rancor, a longtime Rutland resident emerges as an unexpected leader in a town divided by class, cultural values, and divisive politics.

Daisy Gomez is a family counselor in South L.A. married to Max, a gang interventionist. They have a baby daughter, Sarah. They are doing what they can to reduce violence in their troubled neighborhood. But one night, Max is arrested in an FBI and LAPD raid. He faces an extended prison term. County social services take charge of the child. How can Daisy prove her innocence and regain custody of her baby?

An observational-participatory documentary capturing the fierce struggle against anti-Asian hate in the wake of COVID-19. Told through the lens of a community filmmaker, Guardians of Oakland Chinatown reveals the physical and cultural guardians—elders, business owners, women—who refuse to let violence erase their neighborhood. As attacks escalate, these protectors deploy everything, these protectors deploy everything from patrols to intergenerational storytelling, transforming trauma into resistance.