Hollywood Chinese is a captivating revelation on a little known chapter of cinema: the Chinese in American feature films. From the first Chinese American film produced in 1916, to Ang Lee ’s triumphant Brokeback Mountain almost a century later, Hollywood Chinese brings together a fascinating portrait of actors, directors, writers and iconic images to show how the Chinese have been imagined in movies and how film makers have and continue to navigate an industry that was often ignorant about race but at times paradoxically receptive.

Wayne Wang’s A Thou- sand Years of Good Pray- ers will also have its UK Premiere. Adapted from writing by acclaimed US writer Yiyun Li, this gentle and profound tale explores the misunderstandings that arise when cultures and generations clash.

Young & Restless in China is the latest documentary from director, Sue Williams and tracks the lives of nine Chinese Generation X-ers over four years as they scramble to keep pace with a society changing faster than any in history. Raised under communism, they are now making their way in China’s blazing capitalist economy. Sue Williams will join Dr Kevin Latham, Snr Lecturer at SOAS, on stage for discussion following the film.
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Review by David Somerset, BFI Adult Community Curator, ED, Programming in partnership with Susie Wong of the Chinese Cultural Centre
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The BFI Southbank Chinese New Year programme includes the free seniors’ matinee New Year Sacrifice (Zhu Fu). An adaptation of Lu Xun’s novel set during the hardship of the early twentieth century, it follows a poor woman’s struggle for dignity against fate and the reality of peasant life.