Bad Axe (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Bad Axe

| image = Bad_axe.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| director = David Siev

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Jude Harris
Diane Moy Quon
David Siev
Katarina Vasquez

}}

| starring =

| cinematography = David Siev

| editing = {{Plainlist|

Rosie Walunas
Peter Wagner

}}

| music = Stephanie Kowal

| studio = {{Plainlist|

Baker's Dozen Films
Just Films/Ford Foundation
The DeNovo Initiative
Innovation Horizons
Gorilla Flicks

}}

| distributor = IFC Films

| released = {{Film date|2022|3|14|SXSW|2022|11|18|United States}}

| runtime = 100 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $20,696{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=1892713217|title= Bad Axe (2022) |website= Box Office Mojo |access-date=December 16, 2022}}

}}

Bad Axe is a 2022 American documentary film directed by David Siev in his feature debut.

Synopsis

In Bad Axe, Michigan, David Siev's Asian-American family struggles to keep their local restaurant afloat amidst racial tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Release

The film premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 14, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/films/2053843|title=Bad Axe|website=South by Southwest|access-date=April 13, 2022}} In April, IFC Films acquired the distribution rights.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/ifc-films-sxsw-awards-bad-axe-1235231809/|title=IFC Films Buys SXSW Award Winner Bad Axe (Exclusive)|date=April 13, 2022|first=Brent|last=Lang|website=Variety|access-date=April 13, 2022}} It was released in theaters and via video on demand on November 18, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/bad-axe-documentary-trailer-debut-ifc-films-executive-producer-daniel-dae-kim-director-david-siev-news/|title=IFC Films Unveils Trailer For Award-Winning Documentary 'Bad Axe' As Daniel Dae Kim Joins As EP|last=Carey|first=Matthew|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 27, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2024}}

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 43 reviews are positive.{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|type=m|id=bad_axe|title=Bad Axe|access-date=May 3, 2022}} At South by Southwest, the film won the Audience Award and received Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling in the Documentary Feature Competition. The film made the short list for the Oscars short list for best documentary feature.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc12.com/news/local/nationally-acclaimed-bad-axe-film-on-oscars-short-list/article_e32c15cc-9200-11ed-a77f-d71a6ea604d5.html|title= Nationally acclaimed 'Bad Axe' film on Oscars short list |website=ABC12|date=January 11, 2023 |access-date=January 13, 2023|last1=Coonan|first1=Sheryl}}