Crime films that focus on the art world community are a dime a dozen, but none have come around recently quite like Jing Ai Ng‘s directorial debut, Forge. The buzzy crime film made a splash at SXSW, with notices for Ng’s energetic style and the cast led by Star Wars alum Kelly Marie Tran, Andie Ju, and Brandon Soo Hoo. Utopia has dropped the first trailer ahead of its theatrical release in May.
Here’s the synopsis: In Miami, the resourceful Zhang siblings—Raymond and Coco—sell forged paintings to unsuspecting parties. Despite their thriving underground operation, the siblings are still short on cash when they cross paths with disgraced millionaire Holden Beaumont. Sensing an opportunity to make a fortune, Holden convinces the Zhangs to forge long-lost masterpieces as a front for his family’s collection. Meanwhile, FBI Art Crimes agent Emily Lee moves from New York to Miami, discovering a plethora of forgeries cropping up in the South Florida art market. As Emily continues to investigate the Zhang siblings’ work, their lives converge to devastating effect in the Zhang family dim sum restaurant.
Also in the cast are Edmund Donovan, Eva De Dominici, T.R. Wright, Jack Falahee, and Sonya Walger. Ng directs from her own screenplay, and produces the film, as well. Based on the early word, Forge is the movie that could put Ng on the map for a long time to come.
Forge will open in Los Angeles on May 15th and in New York on May 22nd, followed by a wider rollout.
