Available April 16–29
New Series: In Focus
Join us for the first installment of FACETS In Focus, a discussion series centered around film culture and the communities shaping the future of it.
In Focus: Asian-American Film and its Media Representation includes a live panel discussion exploring the dilemma of Asian-Americans who want to be adequately portrayed through film, virtual screenings of Jenny Shi's Finding Yingying (2020) and Alvin Tsang's Reunification (2015), and a watchlist that will add additional recommended films that will enhance your viewing experience about this vital topic.
Program
The release of the rom-com Crazy Rich Asians directed by Jon M. Chu was a game-changer for Asian-American representation in film and has been described as a watershed moment in moving the needle on inclusion. However, other films such as The Farewell (directed by Lulu Wang), Minari (directed by Lee Isaac Chung) and Nomadland (directed by Chloé Zhao), have also broken into the mainstream and tell vastly different stories, some seemingly unconcerned with what we might consider Asian-American themes.
After years of receiving criticism for their lack of diversity, the upcoming 93rd Academy Awards have set multiple records for Asian representation in the directing and acting categories this year. Although this success is extraordinary and long overdue, this paradigm shift presents us with an opportunity to pose certain questions. What makes these movies Asian-American or what (ultimately) leads to what is it to be Asian-American? Has the industry finally begun to recognize the history of identity, contributions, and challenges experienced by Asian-Americans?
In the 21st century, audiences want something that is different, sincere, and genuine, as this unprecedented spotlight should reflect their actual experiences. Many people in the modern era obtain their cultural knowledge through the media in the form of the internet, movies, television shows, and stereotypes. The arts do not exist in a vacuum, and recent tragedies have exposed a charged political atmosphere leading to a disturbing rise in racial intolerance.
Join us for a special event focused on the recent emergence of Asian-American film, by the recognition of its success, both in popularity and awards that have been presented by critics as well as Hollywood, and the related media representation with a panel discussion, FACETS Virtual Cinema screenings, and a watchlist for enhanced viewing.
Live Panel
Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m.
This group of exceptional individuals will discuss this dilemma of Asian-Americans who want to be adequately portrayed through film. While this should lead to the better representation of Asian culture, the question is whether the industry has finally begun to recognize the history of identity, contributions, and challenges experienced by Asian Americans, particularly in Hollywood and the media, or will certain stereotypes persist despite this recent success.
Watch for Free
Stream a recording of the live event.
Charles Coleman (Moderator)
FACETS Film Program Director and "celluloid adventurist" (Chicago Reader) Charles Coleman has more than twenty years of experience in film programming, has taught film courses at the University of Chicago and given lectures at the Chicago Public Library and the Art Institute. He is responsible for bringing to Chicago rare, one-of-a-kind screenings that range from retrospectives of acclaimed filmmakers to the most recent films by up-and-coming directors.
Jenny Shi (Panelist)
Chicago-based documentary filmmaker and video journalist Jiayan "Jenny" Shi is passionate about social justice issues regarding people of color. Her debut documentary, Finding Yingying (MTV Documentary Films), premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and won the Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Voice.
Mia Park (Panelist)
Award-winning, multidimensional, Chicago-based artist Mia Park is an actress, yoga therapist, producer, advocate, volunteer, interviewer, and has been featured on ABC's "Asian Influences" and NBC's "Making a Difference." She has been a professional actress since 1997, and appearing on Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, among other shows and hosting the cult favorite, Chic-A-Go-Go!
Maryam Kashani (Panelist)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Assistant Professor Maryam Kashani teaches Gender and Women's Studies, Asian American Studies and is also a filmmaker and anthropologist. Her research areas, to name a few, include racial/ethnic/religious diasporas and transnational political movements; gender and sexuality; Islam and Muslim communities; and documentary/experimental filmmaking.
Michael Phillips (Panelist)
The Chicago Tribune's film critic since 2006, Michael Phillips has taught film studies, criticism and arts journalism courses at universities around Chicago. He appears regularly as a guest on Turner Classic Movies, the Filmspotting podcast and hosts his own radio show "The Film Score" for WFMT-FM (98.7).
Top
Virtual Cinema Screening
Available April 16–29
Finding Yingying
Watch now
"Shi's film honors Yingying as a person and not just a victim, celebrating her accomplishments and dreams, without allowing her death to overshadow her life."
—Chicago Reader
"The answers the documentary finds are not easy, but the loss Finding Yingying depicts is one that will reverberate for years to come."
—RogerEbert.com
"The director resists inserting herself squarely into the narrative, while still professing herself haunted by what she and Zhang have in common."
—Variety
Yingying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese student and aspiring scientist, comes to the U.S. to study and within weeks of her arrival, she disappears from campus. The film closely follows the journey of Yingying's family as they search to unravel the mystery of her disappearance and seek justice for their daughter while navigating a strange, foreign country. Most of all, however, Finding Yingying is the story of who Yingying was—a talented young woman loved by her family and friends.
Directed by Jiayan "Jenny" Shi, U.S.A., 2020, 98 mins.
Showtimes
Fri., April 16–Thurs., April 29
Ticketing
$8 /general admission
$4 /FACETS Members
Virtual Cinema Screening
Available April 16–29
Reunification
Watch now
"I loved Reunification: the structure, juxtapositions, poignancy and clear-eyed honesty. Tsang's work is so clear, sensitive, and fine."
—Meredith Monk, Composer & Filmmaker
"Reunification is... bittersweet, masterful, nuanced. This is what documentary is built for."
—Jessica Green, Maysles Cinema
"Reunification beautifully documents modern Asian American immigration from the brave, personal perspective of filmmaker Alvin Tsang."
—Aurorae Khoo, Writer
Reflecting for 17 years on his family's immigration legacy, filmmaker Alvin Tsang confronts the delicate images of a once intact family. In this award-winning film, Tsang focuses on his family's migration from Hong Kong to Los Angeles in the early 1980s—fraught with betrayal from his parents' divorce, economic strife and communication meltdown between family members.
GET REUNIFICATION ON DVD Don't just watch the film once, buy Reunification on DVD to watch it again and again and again. Buy Now
Directed by Alvin Tsang, U.S.A., 2015, 85 mins.
Showtimes
Fri., April 16–Thurs., April 29
Ticketing
$8 /general admission
$4 /FACETS Members
Watchlist
Explore more Asian-American films. Enhance your viewing of our panel discussion with 10 Asian-American films, spanning from independent comedies and dramas to Oscar nominated documentaries like Bing Liu's Minding the Gap (2018).