The Great Wall Is a Great Wall (1986)
"A Great Wall" (original title)

When computer programmer, Leo Fang, is passed up for promotion, he feels it is because he is Chinese, and quits. He takes his Chinese-American family to Mainland China to visit his ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Wang

Writers:

Shirley Sun, Peter Wang

Stars:

Peter Wang, Sharon Iwai, Kelvin Han Yee

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Wang	...	Leo Fang
Sharon Iwai	...	Grace Fang
Kelvin Han Yee	...	Paul Fang
Qinqin Li	...	Lili Chao
Xiaoguang Hu	...	Mr. Chao
Guanglan Shen	...	Mrs. Chao
Xiao Wang	...	Liu Yida
Kelvin Wong	...	Liu Yida (as Wang Xiao)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jan Haley	...	Secretary
Jeanette Pavini	...	Linda
Han Tan	...	Old Liu
Jian Xiu	...	Yu
Ran Zhijuan	...	Jan

Storyline

When computer programmer, Leo Fang, is passed up for promotion, he feels it is because he is Chinese, and quits. He takes his Chinese-American family to Mainland China to visit his relatives, the Chao's for a vacation. The clash of cultures, between the men, wives, and teenagers, leads to some confusion, and misunderstanding.

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Plot Keywords:

chinese american | china | culture clash | family relationships | independent film

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA China

Language:

English Mandarin

Release Date:

30 May 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Great Wall Is a Great Wall

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nanhai, W&S

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Paul Fang: All Chinese parents are racist.

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Connections

Featured in The Slanted Screen (2006)

User Reviews

never the twain shall meet

The first American movie filmed in Mainland China presents a mild but occasionally diverting clash of cultures following the reunion in Peking of a thoroughly westernized Chinese-American family from San Francisco with their Old World relatives. The comedy catalogues the bewilderment of host and guest alike when confronted by peculiar foreign customs, with the best laughs coming from the People's republic point of view: students singing 'Papa Rawdi' (Pavarotti) and reciting, in unique pidgin, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address; an old man coping with the electric blanket presented as a gift by his American brother-in-law; the question of whether or not everyone in the United States has VD. The Western perspective is less interesting only because it's more familiar (football, rock 'n' roll, and so forth) but everyone benefits from the mutual exposure, including the audience.