Shortcomings 2023

Ben Tagawa, a dreaming filmmaker who dropped out of film school, resides in Berkeley with his girlfriend, Miko, who is passionate about her work for an Asian American film festival. Ben, however, shows little interest in her advocacy for the political and cultural issues that affect their community.

In his role managing an arthouse movie theater, Ben employs Autumn, a young white woman, as a ticket seller. Tensions rise when Miko discovers explicit material on Ben’s computer, which fuels her worries regarding his attractions. Although Ben dismisses her concerns during a fight, Miko ultimately reveals that she has accepted an internship in New York City.

In an attempt to process the upheaval, Ben meets up with his best friend, Alice, a self-identified “womanizing” lesbian, at a diner where Alice flirtatiously engages with Nina, a waitress. A phone call with Miko in New York goes poorly; he is dismissive of her goals, leading her to suggest a break in their relationship. Reacting impulsively, Ben asks Autumn out. However, his inappropriate joke about Autumn’s unconventional art leads to an awkward moment, forcing her to reject his advances.

Following the disappointment of his attempted date with Autumn, Alice invites Ben to a vibrant queer house party. She reveals that she has broken things off with Nina, who wanted something more serious than Alice could give. It is here that Ben finds himself talking to Sasha, a graduate student, and they begin a romantic relationship. While this new connection excites Ben, Alice’s troubling news throws him off balance; she has been suspended from her program for a clash with Nina’s roommate and plans to travel to New York.

After a few weeks, Sasha ends her relationship with Ben, admitting that she was not completely single when they started dating. Meanwhile, Ben faces more turmoil as he learns the movie theater might close down. With no sign of Miko or progress on his screenplay, Alice urges him to join her in New York, sensing he has hit “rock bottom.”

In New York, Ben is confronted with surprises when he discovers that Alice is in a serious relationship with Meredith, a professor at Barnard. Attempting to reconnect with Miko during her internship, he is shocked to find out she hasn’t even started working there and has instead been modeling for Leon, a white fashion designer with whom she has a history.

Spying on Miko and Leon, Ben’s jealousy ignites as he accuses Leon of exploiting Miko due to her race. An intense conversation ensues, where Ben calls Miko out for seeing Leon. In the heat of the moment, Miko points out Ben’s hypocrisy regarding his own racial preferences and acknowledges her lack of communication about Leon, but asserts their relationship has come to an end.

Feeling guilt over the discord he has caused between Alice and Meredith, Ben returns to Meredith to apologize and decides to cut his visit short. Initially rushing toward Miko and Leon’s apartment, he ultimately sees the couple enjoying themselves in a café and realizes he must let go, choosing instead to head back to Berkeley, confronting his own flaws and relationship dynamics along the way.