New York, NY 10029
USA
At the Museum of the City of New York
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
Thursday, October 19, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (Steve James, 88 min, 2017) documents the incredible saga of the Sung family, Chinese immigrants and owners of the Abacus Federal Savings bank in New York City’s Chinatown. Accused of mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., Abacus was the only U.S. bank to face criminal charges in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The indictment and subsequent trial forced 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 talkback will follow the film with Chinatown community activist Don Lee and Sung family members, Chanterelle Sung, Jill Sung, and Vera Sung of Abacus Federal Savings Bank.
Includes Museum admission and beer courtesy of Harlem Blue.
This event is part of the second season of our nonfiction film series, Smile, It’s Your Close Up: New York’s Documentaries, co-programmed with Jessica Green and Edo Choi of the Maysles Documentary Center, which zooms in on key moments, individuals, and communities to pose the question: “What makes New York New York?” To view all of the programs in the series, click here.
$15 for adults | $12 for seniors, students, and educators (with ID) | $10 for Museum and Maysles Documentary Center Members. Includes Museum admission
