Thirstygirl

Director Statement

THIRSTYGIRL is a raw, intimate film about addiction and sisterhood, following two mixed-race Asian-American women traveling across the American South. It’s my first film. And though fictional, it is an incredibly personal story.

THIRSTYGIRL is about a sex addict.

Sex addiction is a delicate subject. It is generally met with disgust, skepticism, and, at the very least, discomfort. Sex addicts in film are often portrayed as depraved, hopeless people. And usually represented by white characters. With THIRSTYGIRL, I wanted to tell a different kind of story. A nuanced and compassionate portrayal of a sex addict who is an Asian woman. One that challenges stereotypes of Asian women in film. Here, our protagonist, Charlie, is the one sexualizing those around her instead of being sexualized. She’s not submissive or innocent. And she’s not a sociopath either. She’s hurting and this is the solution she’s found to her pain.

It was very important to me that my first film be about sex addiction, as this is an addiction that is widely stigmatized and one that I have struggled with myself. My hope with this film is to create more empathy and understanding for sex addiction and addiction in general, and to provide some hope for those of us who are currently struggling with it.

Against the backdrop of Charlie’s addiction, at its core, THIRSTYGIRL is a story about two sisters. Inspired by my relationship with my younger sister, the film is about what is often the deepest and most complicated relationship in one’s life. And what it’s like to love someone even though at times you don’t know how. Above all else, THIRSTYGIRL is a love letter to my little sister.