Atsuko Okatsuka: Documentary on my Mom and Grandma

-In-Waiting
Directed by: Atsuko Okatsuka
Presented by: Yay! LA
-In-Waiting is a documentary that tells the story of a Taiwanese mother and daughter whose dynamic resemble comedic duos such as Laurel and Hardy. As they go through their day to day going to doctor's visits, hair appointments and sharing meals, it becomes apparent that I would one day have to take over for my grandmother to care for my sick mother.
More information: www.yaylamag.com/atsuko-okatsu...
Official Selection of:
Independent Film Festival Boston
LA Asian Pacific Film Festival
REDCAT
For more info on Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka: www.atsukocomedy.com

[@evawang1007]

Coming from KK show. The love and proud when your mom looking at you made me cry like a child. Thank you for reminding me how important the emotions are.

[@user-bh6sc4nq9b]

❤❤❤

[@pelumifatunsin2647]

She looks at you the way my mum looked at me when she had vascular dementia. She'd look at me like she was seeing someone she liked for the first time, with a tiny smile on her face.

[@WhimsicalHeathen]

As the daughter of an alcoholic father, a mother with disassociate personality disorder, and a schizophrenic brother, this video really resonated with me. I recently discovered your comedy and I love it. Thank you for sharing.

[@melissaweigelcarter9922]

Your Grandmother is so special and you can see her dedication to your Mother. She reminds me a lot of my Grandma and the way she cared for my aunt. ❤

[@kalikun]

Your grandmother is a very strong woman. I hope I can be half the woman she is.

[@AtsukoComedy]

You're doing good 💯 Grandma would be proud

[@henryl6015]

Reminds me of my grandmother who passed away 25 years ago. Taiwanese grandmother so loving well-mannered, strict but protective of their grand kids.

[@WesNishi]

I find the mixture of the Mandarin and Japanese spoken by your family so interesting!

[@EJL_]

Came here from your hbo special - and wow, thank you for inviting us into this glimpse of your life. I rarely leave youtube comments but felt the need to just say thank you. I cried seeing the indescribable, all-encompassing love you captured between mother and daughter, shown so distinctly in the way your grandmother fearlessly approaches strangers while speaking her second/third language so that her daughter might be able to experience what she can of this world. I saw it in the way your mother looks at you with gentleness and pride, perhaps wishing she could care for you in the way her own mother has. Thank you for sharing a piece of you and your art with the world and for bringing so much joy and laughter (and now tears!) to your fans :') Can't wait to see what you continue to do!!

[@rayahomecleaningmotivations]

I used to take anti-depressants for my depression and it gave me sluggish feeling, I was also forgetful and so weak, I quit taking medication because it just give me more suicidal thoughts, now, been 10 years since I stopped and I am fulfilling mommy duties to my children. hugs to everyone, hugs Atsuko

[@rayahomecleaningmotivations]

I hope when i get older my kids will be patient with me, I do not have mother or father my siblings are not my biological family so I have no one to take care of me, We are just poor we can't afford to be sick, your mom is so lucky to have grandma and you Atsuko. Hugs grandma

[@crazysingerr]

I wish you only good health and happiness, even when you get old you may never know who you will meet don't lose hope, god will always be there and I wish you the best of best dear. To be loved and taken care you don't need to be blood related dear and have faith you will be fine and loved❤❤. I love your soul for sharing your vulnerability.❤

[@rayahomecleaningmotivations]

Thank you for this inspiring words, wish I found people like you before... @@crazysingerr

[@rayahomecleaningmotivations]

10:34 your mom is smiling and it touches my heart. I admire you, your grandma, you mom so much.

[@rayahomecleaningmotivations]

14:24 I love how your mom smiles at the camera, i want to hug her,

[@user-ii6xi4ex5p]

i literally have tears streaming down my face from the last scene

[@jujumui]

same

[@monfisch]

I’m on an anti-psychotic and it makes me so tired at times. So I understand why your mother is so tired. The only reason why I seem active is because I’m dramatic. I love your mom and grandma. I love their Taiwan accented Mandarin. It sounds like my accent.

[@salannegrant6967]

Atsuko! What lovely footage of 3 generations of women on their daily journeys. Allowing us a peek in at the past, the present and the future is so liberating! Well Done! Godspeed to Beautiful Spirits! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@eves3124]

Beautiful relationships between three generations, real blessings! I cried at the end, your grandmother is a superhuman ❤ I can totally sense her love for both you & your mom

[@rugsrugs7368]

I can see how as an adult now you take care of your mom. My sister and I are taking care of our mom now and it is something we didn’t expect. Life changes every second. Thank you for sharing this documentary. You guys are helping so many people.

[@deav5572]

No matter how old we get, we always have a mother, daughter relationship. The bickering between mother and daughter is funny and heartwarming. Mothers can be annoying and daughters can also be annoying 😂❤.

[@astanoel6903]

Made me cry, but thank you. I'm half Chinese. You touched on so much. My mother passed away at age 97, 2 months ago (acute covid complicated by failure to thrive due to advanced dementia). Atsuko, I wish you all the best and much love. 🙏

[@huachang126]

I was once surprised by your carefulness, gentleness and empathy. After understanding your story, I found that these were all gifts from your mother. She just loved you in her own way. The great grandma, mother and you worked hard to get through the unimaginable hard times. All of you showed the tenacity of women, just like my grandmother. Life sucks for me now.Thank you for your story,it brings me some warmth. Love from Taiwan❤

[@Plaianu]

What a beautiful honest documentary. Came here from watching your comedy specials and quite frankly I am surprised how delicate and moving this documentary is. I really enjoy what you put out there and there is such depth and intellect to your work that really makes me appreciate your art. Thank you so much!

[@user-nb2wq3df7o]

I love the ending. I know the feeling of worrying for the future.

[@SilverMiraii]

I feel bad for your mother, she seems to have a lot of health issues, but your grandmother is amazing, she takes care of everything. Heart warming video.

[@rs.9165]

The love of some parents are immeasurable! There for their child till the end of their days. This made me cry. Thank you for sharing your family with us.

[@arthurchan1993]

Thank you for sharing your family's stories with us on the KK Show. You, your mum, and your grandma are all so strong and inspiring.

[@brodyblomquist4331]

I miss my grandma more than anything in this world. You are so blessed to have her. She’s so amazing. She reminds me of mine so much.

[@cindyc168]

I love the way your grandma takes care of your mom. I feel so touched by this documentary! It is so nice to hear some Taiwanese spoken by your grandma! 😍

[@brandibucko]

So good, Atsuko. Plus, it was so funny to hear her say not to buy the dish, we can make 1000 year old egg dish at home haha

[@808pacifica]

AT 22:55 I see and sense in Atsuko's Moms face that she really loves you Atsuko

[@ccatcat123tw]

阿嬤真是堅強又有智慧的女人😭❤️不知道有沒有機會聽阿嬤講白色恐怖的故事，很多時候人的傷心過往是不願再碰的

[@feelslikewater]

Very moving - capturing the challenges, small victories and whistles of a train reminding us of such - mental health is hard. Thank you for acknowledging the day-to-day. Thank you so much for this doc. Thank you for being you💛

[@hsiaohaha]

As a Japanese-Taiwanese, I am touching by how you documented your family story. It’s a deep and uneasy topic. I was planning to have some laughs, so I click your h channel. But I end up crying. PS. Your Mandarin is so good!

[@ejoym]

Thank you for sharing this intimate glimpse into your family life. I very much relate because my mom has schizophrenia and my grandma acts as her primary caretaker. My family share a very similar dynamic to yours in this film. I also expect to eventually take on the role as the primary caregiver of my mom. It's scary to think about all of the responsibility that entails but I found some comfort in this short film in knowing that I'm not alone, so thank you. I love all of your comedy (and dancing) too! I'm a new fan who looks forward to seeing more of your works. :)

[@AtsukoComedy]

Thank you so much it's very nice to meet you too!

[@ejoym]

@@AtsukoComedy 😊

[@wjchen18]

Had tears after watching! So real and touching

[@kwalenz]

Thank you, your mama, and your grandmama for allowing this short film of your lives.

[@jasminvomwalde7497]

All of this, I understand it so well. You are not alone. It's strange, it feels like I know your mother from this tiny glimpse into her life you gave us. That's how similar she seems to be to my own. From the stubborness right down to the creative bone ^^ I wish you and your family all the happiness and good fortune in the world, despite everything. You are good people

[@user-ob6hn2ue6o]

I'm all teared up. Mothers are the greatest! I can see the way your mom looked at you filming, that she is proud of you. You're absolutely right that they would feel not to be a bother to us, her children. I see that in my own mother as well, even though she is suffering in a form of dementia right now. Your obaasan is another incredible lady. Initially I thought she was your aunt. I wish good health to both your okasan & obaasan. Thank you Atsuko!

[@eileenjame2166]

I can relate to this as my husband lives with schizophrenia and epilepsy. He has so many good moments, but home life is so challenging for the kids and I when he’s not well. I can only hope that talking openly with my kids about his condition will help them understand themselves in the future. Thank you so much for this documentary.

[@johnchiu]

Hi Atsuko! I've been watching your comedy and this video popped up. I connected with a lot of your humor but this one hits home. Taiwanese grandmas are just the best, I miss mine so much. A small thing that was really sweet for me was how your grandma spoke mandarin with you or when you were around. When she was talking with your mom, she spoke Taiwanese. I remember my grandma telling me that she learned mandarin so she could talk with me. My grandma was most comfortable speaking Taiwanese, Japanese was fine too because that was her education growing up. Mandarin was language of "the oppressors," so she never bothered with it. But she learned it for me because that was what I was taught in school. Also, my Taiwanese is not great...shame I know. The ending of the video with your grandma's voiceover is so comforting to me. Makes me remember that my grandma is/was always looking out for me. Thanks for sharing this my Taiwanese sister. You are great!

[@dorianhorton6805]

Great to see three generations of women interacting so lovingly together! It really does warm the heart. Your mother was the star!😁

[@TN-ow7yd]

my uncle had schizo, and he refused to take medication because it made him feel like a zombie. your mom is so good even with the medication. sad to see her like this and seeing the effects that the illness have on your family. its hard, your grandma didn't give up on her, if that's not love I don't know what is. thank you for this. 🙏

[@MsWing-ij9nb]

What a beautiful, poetic and touching tribute to the matriarchs in your family. A powerful film - I can see this screened at film festivals, especially APIA specific ones where a wider audience can connect to those intimate moments you shared. Thanks for making such an honest film covering topics on mental illness, aging, family, cultural/ generational differences and immigrant life in the US- these experiences all need to be more visible and discussed on our society still today. I’m excited by the innovative work you’re doing in media and comedy. Keep up the great work! You are truly inspiring :)

[@pangeyi]

The conversation between your mom and grandma just remind me how my grandma and my mom was. Taiwanese, Japanese, and Mandarin all mixed together. And you also add another new ingredient like english.

[@SanLang_and_GeGe]

The way your mom looks at you and smiles describes her love for ya. She must really be proud of you.

[@ToraTheGoldenRetriever]

Your story brought tears to my eyes as it reminds me of my family. Under all the bickering, there’s so much love. I remember telling my mom not to wash her hands too long and it will make her skin dry. I noticed my mom washed her hands in the same way in the for at least a couple minutes. It’s almost like she wanted to wash all the painful things away from her life although I know she has developed OCD. Thank you for letting us into a glimpse of your life.

[@yvonnetsai6977]

媽媽雖有點特殊，但感受的到媽媽很愛很愛Atsuko ，不管看了幾次都還是很感動

[@ET-yp9vc]

I find the tram ride at the end, so very, very interesting. The way your Mom is looking at you, Atsuko. I see a Mother looking at her child but I also see that same Mother as a child looking at her Mother. I see questioning. Why are we on this ride? I see concern. The road is bumpy, I need to hold on. Are we going to be ok? I see a slight smile. I see, oh we made it. We are going to be ok.... Looking at her Mother, taking the bag and looking back at her daughter. Here we go again...

[@VicCave]

So beautiful. I cried at the end. Thank you for this. 🙏💜🙏🌸

[@metaphor222]

Thank you so much for filming this. As a Taiwanese who experienced metal illness and as an immigrant from Taiwan, I’m touched by the love you have to each other, even though the ways to show your love are different but it is also made this documentary became so special. Thank you for being so kind and wonderful !❤

[@pritiparmar1002]

It’s so touching how grand mom keeps looking at you mom and your mom at you ….and you back at your mom thru your camera yet every one has a different thought but the affection and concern are common ❤

[@808pacifica]

I Loved it and smiled too when the three ladies laughed and smiled on the train ride...innocent sweet and endearing...We need to share more of this care and love to one another...even at the tiniest or simplest level. To share and experience these simple pleasures, especially with our youth, so that they may learn and experience this love and care for one another, even towards a stranger that could also become a friend. This applies all the way to our elders too. Live life with the Golden Rule, much more enjoyable.

[@whoami2179]

I love this documentary. Thank you for making this. It reflects my life and makes me feel and see something deeply and differently. ( from Taiwan )

[@lillian1187]

謝謝妳影出了每個家庭不同的故事，也讓我反思了很多，也很欣賞你的樂觀和幽默面對人生的方式。

[@airinvlog.888]

This reminds me of my mom and my auntie who is living with us. Watching this brought me to tears and as much as I never spoke about it. I'm so proud that you documented it down and telling the world they are not alone in this. Thank you for bringing me tears of joy and tears of being relatable.

[@candice350]

I discovered you recently as a comedian, and I started following you on Instagram. Today I discovered your mother suffers from schizophrenia; a disease my mother suffered from too. I connect to you a lot by watching this documentary, and I am very impressed by how you handle it. Seeing everything through a comedic eye, I relate to that too, but it is not always easy to do. You are very brave for documenting her illness and talking openly about it; something I have not yet been courageous enough to do. I wish you thé best, and send you my best regards ❤️

[@cmmndrblu]

Thank you for making this. My sister has bipolar and lives with our mum, but I think bout the future a lot.

[@hairdoohell]

Thank you so much for making and sharing this intimate film. It is simplistic yet so powerful. Such a fine line to walk. I could not stop myself from tearing up at the end. Very powerful and engaging . Thanks again.

[@gunnarfield4796]

I was so happy to have stumbled upon this! I was looking you up on KZbin because I really love your comedic style but finding this was exactly what I needed. I recently had to take over care fro my sister with mental illness and she is remarkably similar to your mother and her dynamic with my mother. this made me feel seen and I feel stronger knowing someone like you also knows this journey. thank you so much for sharing such an intimate part of your life!

[@ThaiLakornFanatic]

A very beautiful and moving film. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your family with everyone.

[@jessicaandhika5588]

Thank you for filming this. I could see the gentleness and love from your mum's gaze, so much behind those eyes, unspoken yet so loud ❤. The way she calls you Atchan ❤. Your grandma is a superwoman for sure! The bicker between them - so relatable to my own family!! I feel its the asian household thingy, everything stems from so much love, fear, worry that it all comes out as annoyed, frustrated, "why dont u listen to me!" expressions 😅

[@msgladieator]

I’m crying watching this. I love how your mom looks at you (camera) with a smile and such endearing eyes. I miss my grandma and mama. I wish I could’ve documented them too like this. Thank you for sharing them. I’m happy to see you succeeding and I’ll definitely try to get tickets to your Taipei show, March 11th! ❤😊

[@giddonys9739]

The way she looks at you is so full of emotion. Somehow I understand my mom so much more or maybe I mean I feel for her a lot more. ❤❤❤ this is beautiful

[@sandytaylor311]

Love your work and didn't know you are half Taiwanese! Thanks for sharing this intimate aspect of your family. Every family has a story to tell. I also came to the states as a kid, love to hear more of your adventures!

[@lymcheng]

OMG. 😭 I watched your interview with Mayim Bialik then your interview with The KK Show before the algorithms gave me this. With the context of the last few minutes of the KK Show, I watched this video and thought your obachan is such a badass survivor! She's trying to do right with your okasan for what their experience under the KMT at the time did to them. That aside, I'm getting a kick out of Mandarin with Taiwanese/Hokkien when they want to express something even more strongly (short of using swear words), and a few words in Japanese sprinkled. You are better Chinese daughter and granddaughter than I ever was and ever will be. ❤

[@ellen3348]

Moving and beautiful. Thank you.

[@mayaoviedo207]

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@purexorange]

aww watching this on mothers day.... this is something u can always come back and look at...

[@ubingwu8744]

Omj, I cry cuz when I saw your grandma…. she is so strong woman and your family love each other 🥹🥹😭😭even I feel that your grandma love your mom so deep…hope you have a good day ❤

[@JerzCe73]

Thank you for sharing this; I had a father with Schizophrenia and wasn't told when it was discovered by the army who sent him into war; only when my Mother investigated did we find out...Unfornutnately, he never went on meds but instead self medicated and was awfully cruel to his wife and children...I formed a hatred for not only my father but this illness as well...I cried because I saw her love for you in every smile and stare, the want and longing to be closer...I have BPD, and I sometimes have that same look, that same longing; Mental Illness sucks...

[@timhenderson2972]

So so beautiful. Thank you for this gift 💗

[@Charlotte66666]

Beautiful. Three strong ladies ❤

[@yukustar1]

Thank you, Atsuko-san. What a beautiful documentary. 💗

[@veronicalima8222]

Your Mom is very pretty. Her smile is sweet. God bless all three of you. 🙏😊

[@Tiffany-uu2hq]

thank you for sharing part of your life and theirs with us. it feels special to be let in

[@AtsukoComedy]

thanks so much for watching Tiffany!

[@alexhelton3090]

Went to your show in Atlanta (Buckhead) Saturday & KZbin knew I needed more Atsuko content apparently. My 80yo mother lives with me now & her mannerisms are much like your mother’s. I’m the parent in our relationship, and we resided in non-conforming spaces too. I’m not always as patient as you seem to be in this video, nor as funny - but I’m more open about my background thanks to people like you.

[@AtsukoComedy]

I'm not always as patient either. We're all doing the best we can! Thanks for coming out to the show. It was a blast ♥️

[@ymziu8777]

Coming here from KK show. The dinner time make me remember my granny and also the end of the documantary already let me cry like a child.

[@tshomolama8353]

So, sweet. It made cry.

[@DrMomoyama1801]

This is real life. Beautiful documentary. I feel connected.

[@ibu646]

Your film has so much raw tenderness, split my heart open. ❤

[@jessicabrown2395]

Thank you so much for sharing. I’m sending love to you all from Sydney, Australia.

[@mumabird]

Thank you for this.

[@muzikgill]

❤atsuko ,come here from the kk show,this mini documentary is so true and honestly so touching. Sorry for what happened to your family back then. I see an amazing grandma ,a fragile mama and a great child in the film. Hope everything goes well with your family. Best wishes.

[@BornToChoose]

Coming from Kk show, too. Gotta show my respect for your grandma. She's so tough! Thank you for sharing this with us. Wish all is well.

[@chrisyoon4]

Thanks for this video. Helps me anticipate growing old with my schizophrenic younger sister

[@user-lf1os3sh5c]

Thank you for sharing a glimpse into the realities of caring fo a loved one with mental illness.

[@thriftingnostalgia]

I love the Asian businesses that they go to. Really enjoyed learning a little about you’re world

[@lilylanoue]

you love each other so much, your mom is so proud of you❤

[@pedrofernandes6018]

Very moving and beautiful...

[@michiyofry5527]

Thank you for sharing. My mom has a dementia. It was hard to see my mom don't remember anything, but I appreciate she still lives her life.

[@letsgoeverywhere]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@dottiejones4366]

Poignant, elegantly filmed, evoking melancholy emotions, witnessing tender private moments , job well done! Thank you for this. My world was made more beautiful for having this shared with me today. Gonna live my mom extra from now on. Thank you again

[@jennywright739]

Oh my heart Atsie 🥺 I loved this. love you my darling girl!! ❤

[@MH-jg1wy]

Just ❤. TY. ❤

[@susanl6362]

Love your family❤

[@E.Valley]

When you dine out, I heard your mom say = romantic atmosphere is essential. She is such a cute little girl. ❤️ YOU ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL STRONG WOMEN

[@ZacThompson]

Looked you up after seeing you on Neal Brennan's Blocks podcast. This film is so open-hearted, thank you for making it

[@CHINXINEEMoe]

thank you ..................

[@danaintheocean]

So real and touching ❤

[@hu.hayley4578]

So much love ❤❤ ， mom always give her everything to her children

[@cheungs7]

Your grandma is awesome, can take on so much! Really amazing. I hope you are all better and well now. I hope you can come to Taiwan and visit in the future too! Would be nice to meet you!

[@user-zn4he2lz6z]

You are a good granddaughter and daughter! You take them with you anywhere as you go... keep them as a companion, you are awesome! The medicine side-effects on your mom... you might think of changing another dr. The medicine just keeps her sleepy and low energy...