Penzai | Richard D'Angelo

An elder Chinese mystic finds a young boy, lonely and dejected, and develops with him an unlikely friendship that overcomes the generational gap and violence that has filled both of their lives. ____ Jeremy (Jaden Michael) is the nine year-old son of Bruce (Freddie Bastone), an abusive, alcoholic father. One night, while Bruce is on a drinking binge, he begins an argument with Jeremy. Consumed with blind rage, Bruce let's loose a life of anger on the small boy while mumbling incoherently. Jeremy, while lying huddled on the ground attempts to strike at his father's legs in self defense. On the third strike Bruce is knocked to the ground, hitting his head and falling unconscious. With Bruce unconscious on the ground, Jeremy is left alone. It is then that Jeremy meets Su (Lisa Lu), a seemingly kind and mysterious old Chinese woman who keeps a shop across the alley from Jeremy’s apartment. Su treats the bleeding gash on Jeremy’s forearm with an ancient Chinese herbal ointment. Seeing his emotional pain, she tries to soothe him with the gift of a miniature, landscaped tree she created through the practice of the ancient Chinese art of Penjing. The tree, growing among the rocks of the miniature landscape, represents the stability, balance, and solid foundation so badly missing from Jeremy’s life. That night, Su shows Jeremy her shop, which is full of intriguing surprises for the young boy. Su gives Jeremy a warm, comfortable place to stay the night. In the safety and comfort of Su's bedroom, he sleeps deeply for the first time he can remember. Jeremy is awakened to the sound of Su's screams. He discovers his new friend Su being confronted by two dubious looking individuals. Witnessing this disturbance, Jeremy runs out the back door of the store and heads to his apartment. When he arrives home, Jeremy finds that the apartment has been cleaned out, and is empty, with no sign of his father. Soon after, Su appears at the apartment with the Penzai in hand, which allows the boy to breath and relax. She explains to Jeremy about how he reminds her of her own son, who she lost to a dark shadow, and promises to protect Jeremy from the dangers and hardships of life. While Su seeks redemption for her failure to save her own son, Jeremy discovers just how far she will go to stop the abuse he suffers at Bruce’s hands. During their time together, Jeremy matures and discovers that the road to Hell can indeed be paved with good intentions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​