Iron & Silk (1990)

Mark Salzman always was interested in Kung-Fu and the Chinese culture, claims to have seen every Kung-Fu movie. 1982, with a degree in Chinese literature, he visits a province university in... See full summary »

Director:

Shirley Sun

Writers:

Mark Salzman (autobiography), Mark Salzman (screenplay)

Stars:

Mark Salzman, Qingfu Pan, Hangcheng Dong

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Hangcheng Dong	...	Teacher Cai
Xihong Jiang	...	Teacher Zhang
Jeanette Lin Tsui	...	Teacher Hei
Qingfu Pan	...	Self
Espérance Pham Thai Lan	...	Zhang & April
Mark Salzman	...	Teacher Mark
Xudong Sun	...	Sinbad
Funglin To	...	Old Sheep
Vivian Wu	...	Ming
Yang Xiru	...	Dr. Wang
Xiao Ying	...	April
Hu Yun	...	Fatty Du
Lu Zhiquan	...	Teacher Li
Genyuan Zhuang	...	Teacher Xu

Storyline

Mark Salzman always was interested in Kung-Fu and the Chinese culture, claims to have seen every Kung-Fu movie. 1982, with a degree in Chinese literature, he visits a province university in China for two years to teach Chinese teachers the English language. He learns the refinements of correct behavior among Chinese people, makes friends with his pupils, falls in love with the young doctor Ming, learns Wushu (similar Kung-Fu) from the famous teacher Pan... but also learns about political repression, especially when he's forbidden contact with some of his friends.

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Plot Keywords:

martial arts | kung fu | cult film | kung fu master | martial arts master | 

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Taglines:

As a student in America, he searched for ancient wisdom. As a teacher in China, he learned to find it within himself.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Uschu teacher Qingfu Pan and Mark Salzman play themselves.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mark: [voiceover] I hate to admit it, but when I graduated from college, I thought I was ready for anything. That is, until I stepped off the train in Hangzhou. Here I was in a country of a billion people, and I didn't know a single one. This place was different than what I'd expected. It wasn't at all like what I'd seen in the Kung Fu movies. No one else I knew stayed up all night to watch that stuff, but I was hooked.
[screaming, Kung Fu movie clips with English subtitles]
Mark: The hero was ...

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Doors/My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys/Iron & Silk/Superstar (1991)

User Reviews

insightful, honest, true

This movie was one of the best that I have see in a long time. Provides excellent insight into Chinese culture and life. The main character, Mark, provides exceptional acting and teaching Pan is most definetaly a role model to look up to. Chinese accents just make it more believable. Oscar-worthy material. If you have to see one film, see this one, it won't let you down!

Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 August 1991 (France)

Also Known As:

Ferro & seta

Filming Locations:

Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,256, 18 February 1991

Gross USA:

$356,077

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$356,077

Company Credits

Production Co:

SUN-Productions, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1