Date of Award
Winter 1-3-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Film and Media Studies
First Advisor
Reiko Tahara
Second Advisor
Poyen Wang
Academic Program Adviser
Andrew Demirjian
Abstract
Dear Cheri is a 43-minute essay diary film that follows my journey toward reconciliation and reconnection after a period of self-imposed isolation from loved ones. The story unfolds as I search for people named Cheri—the same name as the writer of three valentines I stumbled upon in a thrift store. These valentines, written by Cheri in the 1970s and addressed to her parents, hold a deep resonance for me, mirroring my own feelings of isolation as a foreigner in a foreign land and evoking themes of separation and loss. In an attempt to confront these haunting emotions, I embark on a journey to find others named Cheri, hoping to give new meaning to these valentines by gathering their memories along with my own.
Recommended Citation
Chang, Chenhao, "Dear Cheri" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/1290
