This is a fascinating documentary on Chinese people in Hollywood movies from the earliest silent to present day. From incredible scenes of a silent movie directed and acted by Chinese sisters to the making of Joy Luck Club.
The Chinese actors and directors who talk about the depiction of Chinese people throughout the history of Hollywood talk with intelligence, compassion and anger. They don't hold back, but they are also even-handed. For example, there was resentment that Charlie Chan was not played by an Asian and that he spoke in "pigeon-English". However, they also said that Charlie's family was a very positive representations. The family as a whole was presented as warm and loving, but especially that his son spoke perfect English, was college-education and an Olympic athlete. But then there's Joan Chen describing how she was given a dialogue coach in The Last Emperor to help her speak English with a Chinese accent.
Also in the film, Christopher Lee talks about the Fu Manchu movies and there's a segment which, if you're a Roger Ebert fan, you'll want to see.
The Chinese actors and directors who talk about the depiction of Chinese people throughout the history of Hollywood talk with intelligence, compassion and anger. They don't hold back, but they are also even-handed. For example, there was resentment that Charlie Chan was not played by an Asian and that he spoke in "pigeon-English". However, they also said that Charlie's family was a very positive representations. The family as a whole was presented as warm and loving, but especially that his son spoke perfect English, was college-education and an Olympic athlete. But then there's Joan Chen describing how she was given a dialogue coach in The Last Emperor to help her speak English with a Chinese accent.
Also in the film, Christopher Lee talks about the Fu Manchu movies and there's a segment which, if you're a Roger Ebert fan, you'll want to see.