Women who don’t identify with their career-driven, family-focused peers can feel as though they may not have options to explore to find fulfillment in their lives. When they choose not to fit into the two narrow avenues of a career and motherhood that society has opened for them to hold space in, they may feel drawn to stay connected to their adolescence. On the cusp of turning 30, Misha, the complicated protagonist of the new drama, ‘Chaperone,’ is at times made to feel flawed by society for not identifying with her age-appropriate colleagues.

The movie is set, and was shot, in rural Hawai’i. The film features an entirely AANHPI cast, including Mitzi Akaha, Laird Akeo, Kanoa Goo, Jessica Jade Andres, Krista Alvarez and Ioane Goodhue.

‘Chaperone’ is the debut feature from writer-director-producer Zoë Eisenberg. The film cleverly juxtaposes the allure of carefree living with its inherent risks for a woman who’s on the verge of the decade in which society expects her to finally put her life on the right track.

In ‘Chaperone,’ 29-year-old Misha Miyamoto (Akaha) lives alone in the house her grandmother left her, has held the same job since high school and likes her life as is: simple. Unfortunately, her satisfaction disappoints everyone around her. Her boss can’t fathom why she won’t take a promotion, her lack of ambition dissuades potential love interests and with no interest in starting a family, her parents push her to sell the house.

Feeling alienated by the pressures around her, Misha begins to seek comfort in Jake (Akeo) – an earnest 18-year-old who accidentally mistakes her for a high school student. Finding solace in Jake’s lack of expectation and teenage antics, their relationship grows… along with Misha’s reckless behavior.

‘Chaperone’ had its World Premiere during the Breakout program at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival. The sold-out screening was held on Friday, January 19 at The Summer and David Theater at The Yarrow Hotel in Park City. The drama won the Breakouts Feature Grand Jury Prize during Slamdance’s closing ceremony. After its premiere, the movie went on to screen at several other festivals throughout the year, including the Hawai’i Intl Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival.

Eisenberg, Akaha, Akeo and Alvarez generously took the time to talk about scribing, helming and starring in ‘Chaperone’ during an exclusive in-person interview during the Slamdance Film Festival. They sat down for the chat at The Yarrow Hotel the day after the drama’s second screening, which played on January 23. Listen to the audio from the discussion above.