Curator's Notes

About This Year's Theme

In every culture, there are formal and informal rites of passage to initiate young people into adulthood. In most cases, the physical transition tends to be easier than the psychological transition. Many youth face uncertainty, anxiety, and depression. Sometimes for the simple reason of rebellion, the youth have made their own assessments of the forbidden activities that distinguish them from adults. Most of these activities which become the rites of passage deal with rebellious acts, such as joining gangs, using of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The inner anxiety and rebellious acts make the transition into adolescent the most difficult task that youth has to face.

The return of Hong Kong to China is a rite of passage for the former British colony and it is more than a simple case of a lost child returning to its mother. 'Identity' has often been thrown around when it comes to discussing Hong Kong, but rightfully so considering the intersection of histories, languages, interests and cultures that have come together to forge this Special Administrative Region (SAR).

This year's Chinese Film Showcase (CFS) represents the most ambitious series to date in the six years history of the annual event.

The 2001 collection features a total of 13 films - 3 from Taiwan, 5 from China and 5 from Hong Kong and personal appearance by directors - Mr. Lawrence Ah Mon and Ms. Yu shan Huang.

The showcase features four HK films that touch on the right to abode and identity issues in post 1997 Hong Kong. Fruit Chan's highly acclaimed Durian, Durian and Little Cheung (Walker Arts) offer a very frank look on the right to abode issue. South African-born Lawrence Ah Mon's experimental docudrama, Spacked Out follows a group of teens (reminiscent of Kids) with little sense of belonging or identity in today's Hong Kong. For sheer realism, Ah Mon made the film with a group of teenagers who have never acted before. In Tsui Hark's Time and Tide, the best of HK action cinema meets youthful rites of passage. Time and Tide which is actually named after Basia's Time and Tide features the next generation of Chinese stars, Nick Tse and Wu Bai.

From the People's Republic of China, 2000 Cannes Film Festival best director, Jiang Wen's (Devil on the Doorstep) first film as a director, In the Heat of the Sun will be making a rare appearance in the US. Following his controversial East Palace, West Palace which was banned in China for its gay theme, Zhang Yuan continue to make his presence felt with the acclaimed Seventeen. The 2001 CFS also features his 1996 film, Sons. Also from the PRC are He Jianjun's Postman and Jia Zhangke's Xiao Wu.

Yushan Huang (Twin Bracelets) is perhaps one of the most underated directors in Chinese cinema. In our 1998 CFS, Sexuality in Chinese Film, Twin Bracelets was an audience favorite. This year, we will feature her latest film, Spring Cactus, Ms. Huang will be on hand to introduce it. Other films from Taiwan include Chang Tsao-chi's Ah Chung and Darkness and Light and Cheng Jo-fei's Where is My Love? a film about a gay writer faced with the tough decision of coming out of the closet in Chinese society.

About the Chinese Film Showcase

Started in 1996, Asian Media Access' annual Chinese Film Showcase (CFS) is a nationally-recognized, theme-oriented film festival that takes place in March - April every year in the Twin Cities. Each year, CFS assembles a collection of seldom seen, commercially unavailable Chinese films and documentaries under one socially relevant theme. The showcase serves to entertain as well as to bring public awareness to relevant social issues taking place in Greater China.

The Chinese Film Showcase forwards Asian Media Access' (AMA) mission to use media, specifically, film exhibition for social betterment. Film plays a significant role not only in reflecting culture, but also in shaping culture. This property makes film a medium that can simultaneously entertains and educates. These projects not only help to extend Asian culture to mainstream audiences, but also provide a common forum for the Asian American communities in the Twin Cities.

The 2001 Chinese Film Showcase is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Minnesota State Arts Board, the McKnight Foundation, the St. Paul Companies and the Minnesota Humanities Commission. In-kind support is also provided by Metropolitan State University.