Why Andrew Ahn remade the first gay film he ever saw

When Andrew Ahn’s family rented “The Wedding Banquet” in the early 1990s, they didn’t realize it was a queer film. They also had no idea that 30 years later, Andrew would write and direct his own version of the film.

For many years, Andrew felt his queer and Korean American identities were in conflict. But reconciling those parts of himself has helped Andrew become one of the freshest filmmakers working today – directing the Emmy-nominated “Fire Island” and several episodes of “Bridgerton.”

In this episode, Andrew talks about coming out to his family through his art, the song that still gets him to rush the dance floor at a gay club, and the music that guided his journey towards wholeness. Here are his songs.

1. Simon & Garfunkel, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Maps”
3. Cascada, “Everytime We Touch”
4. Aimee Mann, “Ray”
5. Camille Saint-Saëns, “Symphony No. 3 (“Organ Symphony”)”
6. Frank Ocean, “Self Control”
7. Hikaru Utada, “Hanataba Wo Kimini”

Listen to Andrew Ahn's ⁠⁠⁠full playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠. Find the transcript of this episode at ⁠⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs⁠⁠⁠.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com⁠⁠⁠.