Breakwater Studios has established itself as a defining force in contemporary profile documentary filmmaking. Their intimate portrayals of activist Terence Alan Smith, pioneering motorcycle racer Mary McGee, and women’s basketball icon Lusia “Lucy” Harris – the latter earning the company its first of two Academy Awards – have shaped a distinctly recognisable house style. With their latest film, LOVE, CHINATOWN, the Los Angeles–based studio turns this acclaimed approach to a place rather than a person, taking viewers on an evocative, immersive journey through the history of Boston’s Chinatown, guided by lifelong resident Cynthia Yee.Directed by Lukas Dong – a filmmaker known for crafting narrative and documentary work for leading brands – LOVE, CHINATOWN opens its historical tour with a warm, engaging introduction from the charismatic Yee. Though her narration initially suggests a personal biography in keeping with Breakwater’s signature style, the film unfolds over its 19-minute runtime into something broader and more resonant: a poignant exploration of community, resilience, and the Asian-American experience.Lifelong Chinrtown resident Cynthia Yee acts as guide through this historical area of Boston.Described by the Breakwater team as a “love letter to the neighborhood,” the passion of both Yee and the studio is perfectly captured through the film’s rich cinematography. Shot by one of the most recognisable names in short film photography, Sam Davis – whose work has appeared on S/W countless times – the visuals not only immerse viewers in contemporary Chinatown but also blend effortlessly with the archival material, never once feeling jarring. Dong weaves these elements together with precision, serving as both director and editor, and ensures the film’s pacing and emotional resonance remain consistently strong throughout.Aiming to deliver a “true portrayal” of the neighborhood, Dong and his team hope that LOVE, CHINATOWN will both “honor Boston’s beloved cultural cornerstone and evolving community” and celebrate “the people influencing its future.” Created as a branded film in collaboration with real estate investors Oxford Properties, Breakwater Studios also hope the project will “demonstrate how brands and corporations can move beyond traditional marketing to create cinematic, human-centered documentaries.”With Breakwater continuing to cement itself as a powerhouse in short-form documentary filmmaking, it will be fascinating to see how their distinctive style translates to feature-length work, with founder Ben Proudfoot currently navigating the festival circuit with his debut feature, The Eyes of Ghana.