Ushmey Chakraborty’s Gay, Asian, Immigrant is a sharp, satirical short that knows exactly what it’s doing—and does it with flair. Chakraborty writes, directs, and stars as Ravi, a young man who lands a job at a marketing firm by playing into the very stereotypes that white corporate spaces expect from him. He spins a story of being a poor, gay immigrant cast out by his family, and the performance pays off. He climbs the ladder. But the cost? His truth.

At home, Ravi shares a quiet afternoon with his boyfriend Ben (played with warmth and sincerity by Dre Matthews), who sees through the façade and loves the real Ravi. But when Ravi’s boss Cheryl shows up unannounced, the walls between his two worlds start to crumble. Ravi scrambles to maintain the illusion, slipping into a caricatured “Fresh Off the Boat” act. Ben, stunned by the transformation, gives him an ultimatum: be honest, or lose him.

Chakraborty’s script is rooted in lived experience, and it shows. He uses the familiar rhythms of sitcom comedy—bright colours, awkward timing, exaggerated personas—to explore the painful reality of code-switching. Ravi isn’t trying to fit in; he’s manipulating the system. But even strategic self-erasure leaves scars. The comedy lands, but it’s never hollow. There’s a sting beneath the laugh track.

Visually, the film plays with tone. The saturated palette of early scenes reflects the artificial world Ravi has built, which gradually fades as the truth begins to surface. It’s a clever touch, reinforcing the emotional arc without ever feeling heavy-handed.

What makes Gay, Asian, Immigrant resonate is its clarity of purpose. It’s funny, yes—but it’s also a mirror held up to the ways culture pressures us to perform, to shrink, to become palatable. Chakraborty doesn’t just call it out; he wraps it in satire and lets the audience sit with the discomfort.

In the end, the film asks a simple but profound question: will you live in truth, or in lies? And it does so with humour, heart, and a wink that lingers long after the credits roll.

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