<<< August 6 - 7, 2008 >>>

Presented in collaboration with Visual Communications and Asia Society of Southern, CA

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Director Wayne Wang burst onto the scene with his landmark independent film CHAN IS MISSING in 1982, then went on to build one of the most interesting and varied careers in Hollywood. An old-school studio craftsman (THE JOY LUCK CLUB, MAID IN MANHATTAN) as well as an indie maverick (SMOKE, BLUE IN THE FACE), Wang uses a range of forms to thoughtfully explore cultural, racial and economic issues. This special tribute showcases several of his finest works, including sneak previews of his latest, A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS and THE PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA. We are thrilled to welcome Wayne Wang to the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre!

Wednesday, August 6 – 7:30 PM

Sneak Preview! A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS, 2007, Magnolia Films, 83 min. Once again, director Wayne Wang beautifully explores the struggle between freedom and traditional family duty with the story of a father and daughter who’ve become strangers as a consequence of the censorship of Maoist China. Mr. Shi (a superb performance by Henry O), a retired widower from Beijing, comes to the United States to help his only daughter, Yilan (Faye Yu), through a divorce, but he soon learns that his goals are in direct conflict with her desire to move on. Winner of four awards at the San Sebastian Film Festival. More on this film. More on this film.

New Cut! DIM SUM: A LITTLE BIT OF HEART, 1985, 88 min. In this heartfelt gem, a young woman in Chinatown struggles between her desire to marry and her need to take care of her aging mother. One of Wayne Wang’s earliest and best examinations of the tension between individual desire and familial responsibility. Discussion in between films with director Wayne Wang. More on this film.

Thursday, August 7 – 7:30 PM

Sneak Preview! PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA, 2007, Magnolia Films, 77 min. Director Wayne Wang, in his exploration of the young generation of the new China, conceived this film as a companion piece to A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS. It follows 24 hours in the life of Sasha, a young Chinese woman who is four months pregnant and travels to San Francisco to have an abortion and confront her lover’s male friend. View Trailer

Director’s Cut! CHINESE BOX, 1997, Lionsgate, 99 min. Dir. Wayne Wang. In the six months before the 1997 British handover of Hong Kong, cynical writer Jeremy Irons falls desperately in love with Gong Li while simultaneously obsessing over a mysterious, scarred Maggie Cheung. The sophisticated screenplay by ace screenwriters Larry Gross and Jean-Claude Carriere allows Wang to craft yet another of his masterpieces of cultural collision. Discussion in between films with director Wayne Wang. View Clip