About the Film
“The craft on display in Steve James’s new film Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is so sturdy and comforting that the experience of watching it almost feels like a hug. Steve James is a filmmaker who seemingly never loses sight of where he is, and what’s important to film. Whether it’s Chicago, Hampton, Huntsville, Pomona, or, now, Chinatown, he’s firmly in place. While watching his films, we are too.”
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail tells the incredible saga of the Chinese immigrant Sung family, owners of Abacus Federal Savings of Chinatown, New York.
Accused of mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., Abacus becomes the only U.S. bank to face criminal charges in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The indictment and subsequent trial forces the Sung family to defend themselves – and their bank’s legacy in the Chinatown community – over the course of a five-year legal battle.
“A heartfelt portrait of a close-knit family facing overwhelming adversity and an infuriating indictment of our U.S. justice system gone seriously awry”
NOTABLE DISTINCTIONS
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
2016 IDFA: International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
ASIAN PREMIERE
2017 Hong Kong International Film Festival
SOUTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
2017 It's All True International Documentary Film Festival, Brazil
OCEANIA PREMIERE
2017 Sydney International Film Festival, Australia
US THEATRICAL RELEASE
May 19 2017, IFC Center, New York City
CANADIAN THEATRICAL RELEASE
June 2 2017, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Toronto
WORLD TELEVISION PREMIERE
September 12 2017, FRONTLINE PBS, USA
**WINNER** AUDIENCE AWARD
2017 San Diego Asian Film Festival Showcase
**WINNER** AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY
2017 Sarasota Film Festival
**WINNER** BEST EDITING: FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
2017 Ashland Independent Film Festival
RUNNER UP - GROLSCH PEOPLE'S CHOICE DOCUMENTARY AWARD
2016 Toronto International Film Festival
BEST OF FEST
2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival
WORLD PREMIERE
2016 Toronto International Film Festival
US PREMIERE
2016 New York Film Festival
