Children of Invention (2009)

The first half of the movie centers around Elaine Cheng (played by Cindy Cheung (actress)), a single mother and immigrant living in the Boston suburbs and the life she provides for her two children (played by Michael Chen and Crystal Chiu). As a way to cope and entertain themselves, the kids invent things. The mother is drawn to pyramid scheme as a way to get ahead and repeatedly loses money. Eventually her two young children are left to fend for themselves when their mother is arrested by the police. The film is loosely based on Tze Chun's own childhood, as well as his Sundance 2007 short film, Windowbreaker.