As far as can be determined, Goh Nakamura is the only lyricist to date who has managed to work Danish existentialist philosopher Søren Kierkegaard into a song about Natalie Portman. 

That he blends such disparate images as effortlessly as wind blowing through a forest is a testament to his sly musical skills and off-kilter sense of humor. Both are showcased in David Boyle's Surrogate Valentine, which will be screened at this month's SF International Asian American Film Festival (for showtimes and locations, see links below).

Listen closely to Nakamura's voice and lyrics -- you'll hear the Beatles, Brian Wilson, and even the Flaming Lips.

More or less playing himself, Nakamura is a San Francisco guitar teacher during the day; when the sun goes down, he struggles in the San Francisco indie music scene.

Enter actor Danny Tuner (Chadd Stoops), a dime store Charlie Sheen who randomly mimics Christopher Walken while aspiring to be hounded by groupies and TMZ paparazzi.

Goh has been hired to try to make Tuner look at least credible in his next role as a rock musician. What better way to prepare for the part than to accompany Nakamura on tour?

When the odd couple hit the road, they run into Goh’s high school crush, Rachel (Lynn Chen).

The plot thickens.

Directed by David Boyle, who like Nakamura, was a big fan of A Hard Day’s Night (1964) and D.A. Pennbaker’s Bob Dylan docmentary, Don’t Look Back (1967), both of which, like Valentine, were shot in black and white. Noh said Woody Allen’s black and white films were also influential.

Surrogate Valentine is an engaging film made on a shoestring that will leave viewers wanting more. Fortunately, Nakamura says a sequel is in the “embryonic stage.” When Culture and Events asked if his character gets the girl, Goh paused and said, “It takes place about a year later; there’s definitely some heartache in it.”

SF International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF)

The 29th annual San Francisco International Asian American International Film Festival runs through March 20. The SFAAIFF is largest Asian American film festival in the U.S. This year, the festival will screen over 100 feature films and videos from Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom, the U.S., and Vietnam.

For more information on Surrogate Valentine, go HERE.