Breathin’: The Eddy Zheng Story, directed by Ben Wang, will be rebroadcast on WORLD Channel July 16, 2019 at 8/7c (please check local listings) through their award-winning program, America ReFramed. In addition, the documentary will be streaming for free on WORLD Channel and PBS from July 16 through August 15, 2019.
The film screened at CAAMFest and initially aired in May 2017 on public media.
Eddy Zheng came to America with his family when he was 12 years old. Then at the age of 16, he committed a horrible crime: home invasion and kidnapping. He was sent to San Quentin Maximum Security Prison, the youngest prisoner in the jail.
Zheng became a model prisoner, teaching himself to read and counseling at-risk youth. Year after year he hoped for parole, and when he was released after almost 20 years in prison, he wanted to work as a community leader. His plans fell apart when the family he’d attacked made it clear they still felt there was no place for Eddy in America; he was picked up by Homeland Security and headed for deportation.
But his supporters said Eddy had served his sentence and was reformed. “If he’s not the epitome of rehabilitation,” says one friend, “who is?” Will society, his family and his victims give him a second chance?
