Happiness Falls

Kim’s (Miracle Creek) richly layered novel brings together philosophy, family drama, love, and hope. Korean American college student Mia Parkson usually has an answer for everything. The overly analytical 20-year-old is not concerned when her father disappears—at least not at first. When her brother, Eugene, who has a dual diagnosis of autism and Angelman syndrome, runs home alone from a walk in the park, concern grows in the family, especially since Eugene can’t articulate what happened. As the clock ticks on the investigation, the family, confined by the beginning days of COVID lockdowns and quarantines, must face their secrets if they wish to uncover the truth of their patriarch’s whereabouts. An ensemble featuring Shannon Tyo, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Thomas Pruyn narrates this complex yet hopeful look at the intricacies of a family facing a personal tragedy and an international crisis. Kim provides a sincere and moving note at the end.