By: Katie Walkley, Peak Associate
Through beautiful archival footage and sincere interviews, the documentary Spring After Spring tells the story of the astonishingly hardworking Mimie Ho’s integral role in the early years of the annual Lunar New Year parade in Vancouver. Specifically, Vancouver-based director Jon Chiang focuses on Ho’s three daughters, Anabel, Valerie (Ms. Vee), and Lisa as they carry on their mother’s legacy while working through their grief for her.
The following interview has been edited for clarity and concision.
What drew you to tell the story of Mimie Ho?
When I heard of Mimie’s story and what she did for the Chinatown community to help start the Lunar New Year parade, I felt that this is an untold story that so many people need to hear about and that people would resonate with it. As we were developing the project, I got to know Lisa, Vee, and Anabel a lot more. I felt that people are going to really fall in love with them and relate with them. When I met the three of them, it felt like being in a conversation with my own family. That’s what drew me to the family and helping bring their story to life.
How would you describe Ho and her daughters’ impact on Vancouver?
When I grew up in Vancouver and anytime I think of the parade, I think of the dancers and I feel like this is true for most Vancouverites. You know, in media throughout the past 50 years, whenever there’s news coverage, it’s usually the dancers on the front page or in news clips. But, it’s such an often overlooked story that we don’t really consider these people who come together every single year to help put on this event. And I feel like they’ve shaped part of the cultural fabric of our city.
What kind of impact does this family’s story have on its audience?
There are definite challenges in the neighbourhood. I feel like this film can have an impact on just remembering the really spectacular events that happen every year. That there is a shared history and still a very vibrant community in Chinatown. The other impact I hope it has is, as a Chinese Canadian and growing up in a family that also had a lot unspoken, similar to the Ho sisters with their mom, I hope this film allows people to have more meaningful conversations in often difficult or taboo subjects such as death.
What would you like to say to potential audiences of this documentary?
“Being a part of a community is so important and they don’t exist without people showing up.”
— Jon Chiang, director of Spring After Spring
So show up to the parade, show up to one of our screenings at the VIFF Centre, or even just go and enjoy Chinatown and be a part of the community. I really hope that this film will help inspire people to continue to celebrate and be part of the traditions that make up their own cultures, whether they’re Chinese or not. These are the things that make life worthwhile.
Go be a part of the community and watch this documentary’s screening and Q&A at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre on February 1. It also has various showings at VIFF Centre from February 6 to 17. Spring After Spring will also be aired nationwide on the Knowledge Network from February 17 onwards.
