HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! It is said that goldfish were created when a school of carp wanted to shed their gray appearance for something beautiful. The gods told the carp that if they could jump up a mighty waterfall over the Dragon Gate. When others failed, one carp persisted for years to finally cross the Dragon Gate and become a goldfish.
In Kelly Yu’s short film Endling, she tells the tale of Richard Chen (Dennis Dun), who has volunteered to nurse the last surviving goldfish in the world, Pao Pao. Presented in documentary style, Richard talks about how he cares for Pao Pao and why this job is important to him.

“…volunteered to nurse the last surviving goldfish in the world, Pao Pao.”
In stark contrast, ichthyologist Bat Zenilman (Ava Capri) explains the difficulty of keeping the species alive to unlock its genetic secret and cure countless human disorders.
I’ve seen a lot of mockumentaries, and what writer/director Kelly Yu does so well is maintain that balance between reality and satire. The star of the film, Dennis Dun, perfectly captures the heart of Richard Chen. He does a lot of silly stuff to care for Pao Pao, but weirdly, it rarely feels silly coming from Chen. The film then builds on Chen’s reason for caring for a fish, which comes off as nothing but heartfelt.
Comedy is difficult to pull off, and in a short film format, it can easily pull you out of reality. Yu keeps the satire lighthearted and the drama grounded for a well-executed story.
Endling screened at the 2024 Hollyshorts Film Festival.