Interview: Director Steve James talks Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail tells the story of Abacus Federal Saving Bank and the Sung family that runs it. To date, the bank is still the only federal bank to be indicted for fraud in connection with the 2008 financial crisis. Therefore, the film is a tale of family, community, perseverance, and the unequal application of justice in America, especially with regards to immigrant populations. I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to discuss the film with its’ director, Steve James. An accomplished documentarian, James has directed numerous award-winning films including Life Itself, The Interrupters, and Hoop Dreams.

Derek Jacobs: What drew you to the story of Abacus and the Sung Family? How did you discover the topic, and what made you interested in documenting it?

Steve James: Well, I first heard about it from Mark Mitten, a producer I’ve worked with for about 10…