It is not long before the novelty of living in Chinatown and marrying a gimshunhock ("Gold Mountain sojourner"—someone living in America) wears off. But Toilet Paper Is Expensive, Eat a Bowl of Tea, The Princess of Nebraska and more. Review by Calvin McMillin: From Joy Luck Club director Wayne Wang comes Eat a Bowl of Tea, a biting satire on the mores of 1940s-era Chinatown bachelor society in New York City.Adapted from the novel by Louis Chu, the film centers on the arranged marriage of Wang Ben Loy (Russell Wong) and Mei Oi (Cora Miao), and weaves an intriguing tale of love, betrayal, and hard-fought reconciliation. Second generation Chinese-American Ben Loy Wang grew up solely with his father Wah Gay Wang since the American exclusion laws prevented Ben's mother from emigrating to the US from China. Chinese men who had emigrated to the United States were known as gimshunhocks, or "sojourner in Gold Mountain" from the Chinese name for America. Eat A Bowl Of Tea (42) 6.2 1 h 42 min 1989 X-Ray PG-13. $3.99 Rent HD. Drama 1989 1 hr 44 min. Eat a Bowl of Tea is an Comedy, Drama, Romance movie that was released in 1989 and has a run time of 1 hr 43 min. Even then you have to be somewhat on your toes to catch it.It's a likable film. Additionally, it represents Ben Loy's decision to release himself from the pressure and control of his father and independently create a life for himself and his family. However, she feels lonely in the city and spends her days sobbing over her deteriorating marriage, not understanding the causes of Ben Loy's impotence. Eat a Bowl of Tea gives us the history of Chinese immigrants in a way that is not portrayed in history books. The most favourite tea in China and Korea are Chrysanthemum Tea. For the film, see, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Brief description of Chu's background and the public's response to, Brief summary, rating, and reader’s reviews, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eat_a_Bowl_of_Tea&oldid=1020938544, Articles needing additional references from January 2008, All articles needing additional references, Articles that may contain original research from January 2008, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Articles with disputed statements from July 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2009, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2008, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Ex: "Wow his mother/father", "Go sell your ass", "sonovabitch", "dead girl/boy", Text parallels the speech of Asian Americans by sporadically including, Ex: "You have a warm heart" (173), "green hat" (127), "Don't stand on ceremony" (164), "Fatty water should not be permitted to flow into another's rice paddy" (158). It was the first Chinese American novel set in Chinese America. Mailing Address Capital Gallery Suite 7065, MRC: 516 P.O. People, especially from out of India are embracing this drink gratefully. Publisher for the University of Washington Member of the Association of University Presses [dubious – discuss] Because of its portrayal of the "bachelor society" in New York's Chinatown after World War II, it has become an important work in Asian American studies. It is not just because of its health benefits, but the sense of peace that it … While vacationing with his wife, a writer (Hidetoshi Nishijima) begins following another man (Takeshi Kitano) and woman (Shiori Kutsuna) who are guests at the resort hotel where he stays. 6. This article is about the novel. But he eventually warms to the idea of bringing a bride with him back to America and raising a family, and he assents to his family's wish. A Korean American man takes care of his sick mother as she teaches him her traditional recipes. Add to Wishlist. Louis Chu’s Eat a Bowl of Tea, just re-released by University of Washington Press as part of its Classics of Asian American Literature series, was first published in 1961, re-released in 1979 and adapted for film by Wayne Wang in 1989, also to critical acclaim. Topic. Immigration restrictions are ending, and Ben Loy's (Russell Wong) father sends him to China to bring back a bride. (86). Email: [email protected] . Immigration restrictions are ending, and Ben Loy's (Russell Wong) father sends him to China to bring back a bride. Eat a Bowl of Tea remains a groundbreaking and influential work. Beyond the film's discreetly handled sexual subject, there is some mild violence. Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012. Eat a Bowl of Tea explores the pressures put on two newlyweds in Chinatown to meet the expectations of their community. In San Francisco, an immigrant widow welcomes the new year with some unhappiness: she's sixty-two now, she wants to make a trip to China to pay last respects to her ancestors, a fortune ... See full summary », A man is hired by a group of people he believes to be gangsters to escort a briefcase from America to Hong Kong. Drama. Louis Chu's novel Eat a Bowl of Tea (1961) places the reader in the isolated, bachelor-dominated culture of New York's post-World-War-II Chinatown. Pinned down in darkness, the flesh tones gleam like peach-skin pearls. If you're expecting some mildly humorous situations told in a dramatic vein, then this film will probably entertain :)Enjoy! Written by "...she [Mei Oi] was like a child lost in thick forest" (129). Whether you're ready for the return of your favorite show or need to catch up, May is packed with an array of returning series. [clarification needed], Ben Loy waited for his turn at the doctor's office...sitting opposite a lady who had followed him in. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Later when they both got up, Mei Oi started to sob, very softly" (99). $3.99 Rent HD. Rent €3.99. The demand for tea is slowly on the rise. An artist, framed for the murder of a woman, is drawn into a web of corruption, blackmail and deceit. Chu uses their stories illuminate conflicts between Chinese ideals and traditions and contemporary American society. There are points in the novel when the reader knows more about a situation or character than anyone in the actual story – this unique situation allows for thorough analysis or characters and the development of suspense. [Lee Gong's reaction] "Lee Gong let go a typhoon-sized sigh of relief" (151). Year: 1989 Rating: 5.0. When he arrives, however, his contact is nowhere to be found. Eventually Soon Lee Gong, Wah Gay, and finally Ben Loy learn of the affair. Ben Loy and Mei Oi decide to free themselves of all family and community ties by starting anew in San Francisco. It was the first Chinese American novel set in Chinese America. You just need to research well on online tea … Eat a Bowl of Tea is a comic, satirical novel that probes the way of life prevailing in the American Chinatown society of the 1940’s. $12.99 Buy HD. Eat a Bowl of Tea Wayne Wang returns to Chinatown with Eat a Bowl of Tea, and recaptures the relaxed humor and deep emotions of his earlier Dim Sum in the process. The title of the novel comes into play when Ben Loy takes the initiative to ask a Chinese herb specialist, Dr. Suey, if he has anything that would cure his impotence. Chu's work was ignored for a decade and finally rediscovered in the 1970s. Buy. Upon learning that Wah Gay has a marriageable son (Ben Loy) here in the States, Lee Gong spies on him at his restaurant and decides that he is the right man for his daughter (Mei Oi), who is still in China. [Ben Loy's depression] "The black hand of darkness seemed ready to swoop down from the clouds to grab him" (207). Eat a Bowl of Tea also shows the terrible consequences of gossip and the way it can destroy people’s lives as effectively as a wildfire raging out of control. Ben Loy becomes addicted to these sexual flings, often sleeping with numerous prostitutes in a night. Fax: (206) 543-3932. Not long into Wayne Wang`s ``Eat a Bowl of Tea,`` the Chinese-American hero, Ben Loy, visits the old country to pick up a bride. Description. Without the permission of his father – who wants Ben Loy to stay in Stanton, away from the temptations of New York – Ben Loy and Chin Yuen move to an apartment on Manhattan's Catherine Street. This is NOT a comedy. If you're expecting lots of laughs, then don't see this film. Eat A Bowl Of Tea. Eat a Bowl of Tea Synopsis: A study in culture bridging, including... a new US-born husband, trying to work within the traditional ways, a new China-born wife, eager to join the "dream" of America, two family-minded fathers, lots of gender-related social bifurcations. It is early 1949, Mao … Momentarily he turned from his magazine to the lady...Shapely legs...The well proportioned legs drew his attention and reminded him of one day in Calcutta. Director Wayne Wang's 1989 film comedy Eat a Bowl of Tea (a literal translation of a Chinese phrase meaning "Take your medicine") is a story about Chinese immigrants in the United States a topic and an ethnic group largely ignored by Hollywood. The tong mocks the family and Mei Oi realizes the magnitude of shame she has brought upon them. Yet, it's sentimental and a love story too. The first novel to capture the tone and sensibility of everyday life in an American Chinatown, it is an incisive portrayal of Chinese America on the brink of change. The doctor responds, "Eat a bowl of tea and we'll get you on the way to recovery" (244). Eat a Bowl of Tea can be read as a sexual farce and a novel of manners, drawing inspiration from the Chinese tradition embodied by the seventeenth-century erotic classic Chin P’ing Mei (or Plum in the Golden Vase), as well as wuxia narratives, yet it uses as a most significant background the Chinese ethnic ghetto of the pre-war era. Films similar to or like Eat a Bowl of Tea (film) 1989 film directed by Wayne Wang based on the novel of the same name by Louis Chu. Eat a Bowl of Tea remains a groundbreaking and influential work. [Moving to Stanton] "It would be like starting anew, changing a spoiled blouse for a new one" (151). The acting is very fine; no over the top performances, nor understated moments; all characters are given appropriate exposure, and state their messages with emotional clarity.The film is somewhat slow, but not overly, as is Wayne Wang's style. This engaging comedy-drama examines a post-WWII American phenomenon where, after years of strict immigration laws and forced separation of spouses, Chinese immigrants were finally able to bring their mates to the US. These italicized sections of the text represent the most personal glimpses into the characters of the novel. [Wah Gay cuts off Ah Song's ear] "Ah Song's left ear fell to the floor" (183). When the novel was first published in 1961, reviews denounced it, deeming the content offensive and the language "tasteless and raw" (2). His exploration of the effects of exile on the most vital and cherished components of traditional culture is pervaded by … It's an arranged marriage, but Ben falls in love at first sight with the beautiful Mei Oi (Cora Miao). 6. A study in culture bridging, including ... a new US-born husband, trying to work within the traditional ways, a new China-born wife, eager to join the "dream" of America, two family-minded fathers, lots of gender-related social bifurcations. The text depicts the close friendship between Wah Gay and Lee Gong (both Chinese immigrants with wives back in Guangdong (Canton)), and a conversation concerning their unmarried children ensues. [Distance between New York and Sunwei] "...ten thousand folds of mountains away from home" (66). This engaging comedy-drama examines a post-WWII American phenomenon where, after years of strict immigration laws and forced separation of spouses, Chinese immigrants were finally able to bring theirmates to the US. Even the affections of Chin Yuen, Ben Loy's closest companion, cannot distract Mei Oi from the pain she feels away from Ah Song, and she eventually convinces Ben Loy to move back to New York. Taking place in New York's Chinatown in the late 1940s, Eat a Bowl of Tea is the story of the marriage of Ben Loy and Mei Oi, arranged by their respective fathers, Wah Gay and Lee Gong, who are two of the many "bachelor husbands" of Chinatown, married men whose wives were left behind in China when they came to America to work. Eat a Bowl of Tea . ‎Watch trailers, read customer and critic reviews, and buy Eat a Bowl of Tea for $12.99. The cinematography is intimate and very straightforward. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2. Although Ben Loy seems to be the epitome of a "good boy," he has a secret life. It is only socially accepted for a man to have an affair: Therefore, Mei Oi becomes the "man" in the marriage when she has an affair; this is reflected in Ben Loy's loss of manhood. After this scene, the story returns to normal, chronological order. In Sunwei, the "Golden Mountain" discussed represents America. Add the first question. Fax: 202.633.2699 This is a trailer I produced awhile back for this funny Wayne Wang film. Yet, it's sentimental and a love story too. The first novel to capture the tone and sensibility of everyday life in an American Chinatown, it is an incisive portrayal of Chinese America on the brink of change. By keeping sentences relatively simple and throwing in various cultural terms and phrases, Chu makes his novel both authentic and readable. Although the novel does not begin at the earliest chronological point of the story (ab ovo), it also does not follow the typical structure of in medias res. Wayne Wang directs his third foray into the Chinese American community after the films Chan is Missing and Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart, but this time he dips back into the past to tell a very unique slice of history. Numerous references are made to the Asian American soldiers represented by Ben Loy. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Chu makes the stylistic choice to italicize certain words and phrases of his text. By avoiding graphic descriptions, these passages remain tasteful and allow readers to use their own imaginations to obtain closure. "Constructions of Chinese Identity in, Chua, Cheng Lok; "Golden Mountain: Chinese Versions of the American Dream in, Hsiao, Ruth Y. Vicious cycle portrayed most aptly through Wah Gay attacking Ah Song. Read more. They are abruptly awakened by a prostitute ringing the doorbell. Drama. Yet at the same time the "message" and title of the film is almost too subtle to grasp, and is only made openly manifest in the final scenes. View production, box office, & company info. Eat a bowl of tea by Louis Chu. It is also drunk when a person is suffering from fever or headache. HoloLens PC Mobile device Xbox 360 Trailer. Second generation Chinese-American Ben Loy Wang grew up solely with his father Wah Gay Wang since the American exclusion laws prevented Ben's mother from emigrating to the US from China. The novel is told by a third-person omniscient narrator – one who is able to reach and relay the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the characters. On the surface, Ben Loy appears like a "good boy", yet he is covering up secrets of a promiscuous past. This occurs while depicting: Finally, Chu portrays even the most violent and sexual of scenes with beautiful and minimalist description. The Chinese Exclusion Act set in place by the American government in 1882 banned Chinese immigrants from bringing their families to the United States. This FAQ is empty. Eat a Bowl of Tea is a 1961 novel by Louis Chu. Ben Loy visits another Chinese herb specialist and decides to take the doctor's advice and "eat a bowl of tea" to treat his impotence. [Snow in New York] "Everything was white. Available on. A MAN, A WOMAN, AND A KILLER is the story of a small-time gangster (Dick Richardson) writing his journal in a Mendocino, California, farmhouse, as he awaits a hit man who is coming to kill ... See full summary ». Although these memories are rare, they help portray character traits and provide history to explain current situations. Back in the old apartment, the affair resumes right where it left off. It's a shame that Louis Chu is no longer with us, he could've authored more books -- "Wow, your mother!" This unfortunate predicament is depicted through the old men of the novel, such as Wah Gay and Lee Gong, but it also plays out in the way Mei Oi's arrival affects the entire community. It has been cited as an influence by such authors as Frank Chin and Maxine Hong Kingston. With this sudden remembrance, the narration describes Ben Loy's rendezvous with a prostitute through third person direct discourse. Eventually Ben Loy and Mei Oi have to stop reacting so strongly to others and forge a marriage on their own terms, even after it is badly shaken by a setback. He and Wah Gay decide that Ben Loy will go to China and bring back Mei Oi as his bride. Tea is a way of life for many people. Although they made love during their first few weeks of marriage, since their arrival in New York he no longer appears to desire her affection, even when she attempts to arouse him. It is now considered a primary work in Asian American literature, and Louis Chu has been praised repeatedly for creating an honest portrayal of Chinese American culture. Two cab drivers search San Francisco's Chinatown for the mysterious Chan, who disappeared with their $4000. Represents an escape from reality for Mei Oi: Represents a reminder of reality for Ben Loy: While watching the opera "Gim Peng Moy", he relates the disloyal protagonist to Mei Oi, Represents temptation, evil, loss of innocence, Represents parental supervision, reckless mistakes of youth, Represents emancipation, new beginnings, rebirth, Represents reinstating masculinity and independence, Chen, Xiangyang. The mini-series/TV movie was followed by a short lived TV series. It's 1949 and New York's Chinatown is about to be turned upside down. [2] It was made into a film of the same name by Wayne Wang in 1989. NZ$14.99. Immigration restrictions are ending, and Ben Loy's (Russell Wong) father sends him to China to bring back a bride. Eat a Bowl of Tea Director: Wayne Wang. The novel takes place in the 1940s, and the majority of the plot takes place in New York's Chinatown. Eat a Bowl of Tea Wayne Wang returns to Chinatown with Eat a Bowl of Tea, and recaptures the relaxed humor and deep emotions of his earlier Dim Sum in the process. Although Wah Gay attacks Ah Song, he receives no punishment and Ah Song is exiled. It highlights the cause of Ben Loy's impotency and the effect this has on Mei Oi, foreshadowing the deterioration of their relationship. It is early 1949, Mao … Eat a Bowl of Tea by Chinese American writer Louis Chu presents such Third Space. Smoky, sepia-toned sets create the mood of secrecy, intrigue and gossip, and the understated performances of Cora Miao, Russell Wong, Victor Wong, and Lau Siu-Ming leave as much implied as revealed. Aspect that I noticed in this film will probably entertain: ) Enjoy by Louis Chu shows coming your in. Confuses Mei Oi is raped by Ah Song presses charges, Wah Gay decide that Loy... 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