A woman in sparkling traditional attire dances energetically on stage with two people in dark outfits, arms outstretched, under blue lighting and a shiny, golden background.

Like a high school overachiever, ‘Best of the Best’ peaks early

Directed by Lena Khan, Netflix’s latest film is a scattered comedy-drama about a South Asian college dance troupe

A woman gestures while speaking to a man standing beside her in a classroom. Other students sit in the background, some watching the conversation, with laptops and notebooks on desks.

‘Best of the Best’ is more than just a dance movie

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Hasan Minhaj on how they turned the collegiate South Asian dance circuit into a universal story

A close-up of a persons eyes with red dotted lines above the eyelids, on a blue background with pink bandages and white arrows.

Double-eyelid surgery: Removing East Asian features, or just personal preference?

A brief look at the procedure’s beginnings, and how a complicated history can affect how we see ourselves today

Three women sit together outdoors. The woman in the center, wearing a blue bathrobe and holding a mug, looks upset. The women on both sides gently comfort her by placing their hands on her arms, creating a quiet moment of support in the presence of The Unbidden.

‘The Unbidden’ turns women’s invisible labor into horror

Its ghost may drive the mystery, but this film’s deepest horror lies in the silence, grief, and expectations passed from one generation to the next

A man in a black suit stands on stage holding an Emmy award, speaking into a microphone against a softly blurred, gold-toned background.

Hiro Murai makes Emmy history as ‘Emmys So White’ debate resurfaces

While he became the first Asian director to win for directing a comedy series, actors of color were shut out of all the major categories

Three illustrated girls in various outfits, with one painting, one sitting and the other using a headset, over a colorful, patterned background. Claudia Kishi from the Baby-Sitters Club is featured among them. The text “The Baby-Sitters Club” is spelled out in block letters at the bottom.

How Claudia Kishi inspired Asian American women to follow our dreams

For 40 years, Ann M. Martin’s beloved ‘Baby-Sitters Club’ character has given us representation and the courage to be ourselves

Two people in outdoor clothing and hats walk through a mountainous, forested area. One holds a rifle. The scene is in black and white, evoking a remote and rugged landscape reminiscent of the atmospheric tension found in Na Hong-jin’s films.

Why it took Na Hong-jin 10 years to make ‘Hope’

A decade after his last film, the South Korean filmmaker returns to the big screen with an action-packed creature horror

A smiling man in a gray sweater stands in front of a window. Next to him is the cover of the book Of Sorcery and Science by Mike Chen, featuring a young man holding a glowing device and a woman with magical energy.

Mike Chen’s YA debut asks, ‘What happens after you save the world?’

In “Of Sorcery and Science,” the sci-fi author delves into fantasy for the first time and follows a teenage boy after his grand adventure

Four people stand on a sandy beach near the water, with trees and greenery in the background. They are looking in different directions, some gazing at the sea and others at each other. The scene appears calm and thoughtful.

‘Possible Love’ is a genuine masterpiece

Selected as South Korea’s 2027 Oscar submission, Lee Chang-dong’s first film in eight years premieres at the Venice Film Festival

A man balances on a narrow yellow platform in a colorful game show set. A scoreboard displays 4m 90 in yellow. An inset shows a commentators face reacting.

Japanese game shows bring the joy you didn’t know you needed

JoySauce TV offerings like “G Wars” and “Endless Pranks” are popular for a reason: they’re a light during complicated times

Two French cakes are shown with French and Occitanie flags, set against a blue-toned backdrop of a bakery storefront labeled Marc Heu..

Stir Fried: How Marc Heu brought French patisserie to the Twin Cities

A look at the Hmong French pastry chef’s journey, from his childhood in French Guiana to living the American dream in Minnesota

Four women in matching white dresses with leopard print sashes pose for a mirror selfie in a tiled bathroom. Three smile, while one stands with her hand raised behind her head.

Finding my Moroccan American identity away from Morocco

College didn’t give JoySauce intern Aya Mahmoudi a perfectly packaged answer as to who she is, but permission to keep asking questions about her

Two police officers sit in a patrol car with the red lights flashing. The woman in the passenger seat looks surprised or alarmed, while the man drives. The setting appears tense, possibly during an emergency or urgent situation.

Na Hong-Jin’s ‘Hope’ is action packed, but barely scratches the surface

The South Korean horror flick follows a police chief who finds his town attacked and killed by mysterious creatures

A woman with dark hair looks to the side next to the cover of the book Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang, which features colorful illustrations of a cityscape and flowers.

R.F. Kuang deflates the diaspora fantasy in ‘Taipei Story’

The author examines the Asian American trope of returning home and shows the beauty that can be found in going back

A group of sumo wrestlers, wearing traditional mawashi, watch two sumo wrestlers engaged in a match in a darkly lit arena. The atmosphere is intense and focused.

‘Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing’ is gorgeous, but whitewashes the sport

From Japanese American director Erik Shira, Venice plays host to a documentary with religious reverence for its athletes.

A muscular woman with wavy blonde hair stands confidently in a superhero-like outfit labeled Voltage, with a glowing blue background and dramatic lighting.

Daniella Means on rugby, Hong Kong, and becoming an ‘American Gladiator’

JoySauce catches up with the Hong Kong-based bodybuilder who joined this summer’s Amazon Prime relaunch of the 1980s competition show

Book cover for Bake Sum featuring colorful pastries in the center, flanked by two smiling individuals on either side, one with glasses and floral shirt, the other in a white shirt holding a pastry.

‘Bake Sum’ cookbook reminds us that we have to look back to move forward

The book explores the history of Asian American pastries and how you can make them at home with Joyce Tang and Soleil Ho

A young man in a floral apron and yellow shirt stands next to a surprised young woman, Amita Rao, in a pink polka-dot robe. Both look off to the left, appearing shocked or concerned.

Amita Rao continues to be wacky and empowered in ‘Adults’

Returning as Issa, the actress brings her comedic personality back into the spotlight for the sitcom’s second season

Three teenagers stand by a car stopped in a forested area. One girl leans out of the open car door, looking ahead, while two boys stand or sit nearby, all appearing concerned or thoughtful.

Director Alexander Ullom wants you to sit with the horror in ‘It Ends’

The filmmaker’s debut feature takes the existential dread of growing up online and traps four friends inside it—literally

Person with short curly hair, wearing a black sleeveless top and black pants, leans back against a white wall, looking confidently at the camera. Channeling the unmistakable style of Nene H, the background features a modern gray and white color scheme.

DJ Nene H is finding freedom in herself

The Turkish Azerbaijani DJ and producer is on an ongoing journey of authenticity and finding her liberated identity

Rob Yang on finding nuance and ambition in Hulu’s ‘Furious’

The actor unpacks his approach to the series’ dark world, and the importance of being part of this relevant series

A young girl in striped shirt and yellow overalls looks upset as a large, furry puppet hand grips her collar. The background is bright and outdoorsy with clouds and trees.

‘Buddy’ turns nostalgia into a bloody nightmare

If you’ve ever found Barney the Dinosaur creepy, this film might be for you

A muscular man poses with flexed arms, holding a hammer. Gloved hands approach with a syringe, scalpel, and a fist against a vibrant, geometric background.

‘Looksmaxxing’ among Asian American men

Asian American men are being pushed toward a version of “self-improvement” rooted in racial insecurity, misogyny, and Eurocentric beauty standards

Four men stand together in a dark alleyway, all wearing black clothing and serious expressions. One man in front wears a wide-brimmed hat and crosses his arms, while the others stand closely behind him.

Inside Mongolian metal band The Hu’s Hunnu rock revolution

The group’s lead throat singer, Galbadrakh “Gala” Tsendbaatar, talks Hun, Hunnu rock and the art of blending ancient and modern sounds

A person with painted nails pulls pink tights down their leg against a wooden backdrop.

F*ck Around and Find Out with Anna Lee: How to be an analog pervert

This month, Anna helps us find the one who matches our freak, but without the apps

A person with long dark hair lies on grass with eyes closed, sunlight and shadows crossing their face, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Rafael Manuel’s ‘Filipiñana’ exposes violence beneath a beautiful surface

The filmmaker explains why his debut feature’s violence is universal and how behind the film’s pristine greens is a history of colonialism and displacement