TEA AND JUSTICE

Directed By: Ermena Vinluan

Review By: Kim Jindra

TEA AND JUSTICE is a wonderful examination of the impact of three Asian American women who pursued their desire to enter law enforcement over the objections of their social groups and family units.

Filmmaker Ermena Vinluan admits to mixed feelings about cops.   She is puzzled by Asian American women, like herself, who would embrace  the  life on the  NYPD.  And she found she  wasn't the  only one who was suspect.  When she called the NYPD  for access to the officers and they  asked if she was from PLAYBOY.

Agnes Chan, a 20 year  college student broke the  barrier for her Asian sisters in 1980.  She recalled  her first day when she had to wear a skirt on the  job.  After her duties involved climbing she went out and bought her own pants which her superior objected to until she told him  her authority was diminished by  anyone looking up her skirt.

Trish Ormsby  faced opposition at home and on the streets.  She said she could not tell her parents she was in the academy until the day she graduated.  And her parents refused to put her picture on the wall.  And on the force she had to learn to lower her voice.

Christine Leung-Chuah  felt degraded by the use of pet names like sweetie and honey.  She expected to be addressed as, officer or detective, just like the men.

But all three women agree that both sexes must be in control on the street.   And size does not matter because even the tiny ones have a gun.  They also see benefits on a cultural basis because they can work as decoys in areas where immigrants are easy targets.  They also can overcome the culture stigma of not talking to the police.

I found myself cheering for these women.  I am more like  Vinluan  in my feeling s for the police.  My ex brother-in-law is an officer   which has done nothing to enamor me further.  But seeing this piece has caused me to have a new respect at least for these three women.

The documentary is entertaining and informative.  The cartoons done by Andy MacDonald and the asides by Vinluan add just the right amount of humor