Sheryl Mackay, Paul Yee and John Byrnes at CBC Radio One Book Club May 17 – photo Todd Wong
Monthly Archives: May 2006
“Music with Marnie”at Vancouver Children's Festival – I meet Marnie!!!
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“Music with Marnie”at Vancouver Children's Festival – I meet Marnie!!!
Marnie Grey and Todd Wong – my eyes are closed in bliss! – photo Deb Martin
I went to the Vancouver International Children's
Festival with my mother and my almost 3 year old nephew. We went to see “Music with Marnie,”
Marnie Grey is an incredibly energetic former pre-school worker, who
now headlines her own shows at children's festivals across the country.
Marnie is a friend of my mother's. They practice Qi Gong together
sometimes. Marnie and her husband Kevin were caught in the
December 26th Tsunami in Thailand. Check out her incredible story
of getting hit by the water, running for the hills, and experiencing
the incredible love and support of the Thai people, as well as how
Marnie has found a way to give something back to the Thai community.
Check out Marnie's bio at the Children's Fest. Better yet – catch her remaining shows on Sunday May 21, or Monday May 22.
The Children's Festival is lots of fun this year. We also saw
Lolo and
Bob, two fun young women who sing songs about sea animals in a show
called Sea Notes. We did face painting, and I even bought a large
stuffed animal dragon toy. One for my nephew… one for me and
the dragon boat team.
Marnie has a wonderful children's album called Groovin' Through the Neighborhood. It has instantly singable songs perfect for pre-school aged children. Check out Marnie's album:
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My Favorite Marnie Songs are:
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Naomi's Road at Seattle Public Library – seen by Joy Kogawa's brother Rev. Timothy Nakayama
Naomi's Road at Seattle PublicLibrary – seen by Joy Kogawa's brother Rev. Timothy Nakayama
The following was sent to me by both Joy Kogawa and her brother
Rev. Timothy Nakayama. He is now a retired minister living in
Seattle. The story of Obasan is partly autobiographical, and the
character of Steven Kato is a composite character partially based on
Joy's older brother Tim.
Rev. Timothy Nakayama. He is now a retired minister living in
Seattle. The story of Obasan is partly autobiographical, and the
character of Steven Kato is a composite character partially based on
Joy's older brother Tim.
Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble performs “Naomi's Road” composed by Ramona Leungen, libretto by Ann Hodges, and commissioned by Vancouver Opera.
– Todd
“The Rev. Timothy M. Nakayama” 05/15/06 8:52 PM
Monday night, May 15, 2006 8:40 p.m. –
From the Rev. Timothy Makoto Nakayama, Seattle
Hi Joy, Todd, and fellow Seattlelites:
My
wife, Keiko, and I returned last Tuesday from our 3-week trip to
Japan. We are still in jet-lag that keeps us sleepy during the
daylight hours and awake during much of the night and early morning.
However, our daughter, Tina, drove us, and brought her son, Taylor,
and we I managed to get to Bainbridge Island by ferry from Seattle
and got to Woodward Middle School after having dinner at a local
Japanese restaurant 0.6 miles from the ferry dock, and then 1.6 miles
to the school last Friday evening in time to see and hear “Naomi's
Road”. As a bonus I met and spoke with Mary Woodward in the school
parking lot after we came outside.
wife, Keiko, and I returned last Tuesday from our 3-week trip to
Japan. We are still in jet-lag that keeps us sleepy during the
daylight hours and awake during much of the night and early morning.
However, our daughter, Tina, drove us, and brought her son, Taylor,
and we I managed to get to Bainbridge Island by ferry from Seattle
and got to Woodward Middle School after having dinner at a local
Japanese restaurant 0.6 miles from the ferry dock, and then 1.6 miles
to the school last Friday evening in time to see and hear “Naomi's
Road”. As a bonus I met and spoke with Mary Woodward in the school
parking lot after we came outside.
When
the young performers were confronted with probing questions about the
Japanese-Canadian “camp” experiences and Canadian governmental
attitudes which prompted the “Relocation”, As one born and raised in
Canada, and an eye witness of the Japanese Canadian “camps”, I couldn't
contain myself and began a response. After the question period was
concluded the cast took pictures of me with them. They were somewhat
interested in meeting me as the brother of the author of the little
children's book, Naomi's Road, whose words inspired the development of
this opera. What they had been describing by singing, acting and
skillfully moving and inter-changing scenic panels on stage, was a
reflection of the past that had occurred! It stirred my memories!
the young performers were confronted with probing questions about the
Japanese-Canadian “camp” experiences and Canadian governmental
attitudes which prompted the “Relocation”, As one born and raised in
Canada, and an eye witness of the Japanese Canadian “camps”, I couldn't
contain myself and began a response. After the question period was
concluded the cast took pictures of me with them. They were somewhat
interested in meeting me as the brother of the author of the little
children's book, Naomi's Road, whose words inspired the development of
this opera. What they had been describing by singing, acting and
skillfully moving and inter-changing scenic panels on stage, was a
reflection of the past that had occurred! It stirred my memories!
This was my first experience of this opera, and to say the least it was nostalgic.
I intend to go tomorrow night to the Seattle Downtown Public Library by 7 p.m. to hear and see it again.
Tim.
Joy and Tim Nakayama
as children before internment at 1450 West 64th Ave. in Marpole
neighborhood in Vancouver. The house will become a writing centre
and writer's retreat known as Joy Kogawa House. photo courtesy of Joy
Kogawa.
Joy and Tim Nakayama
as children before internment at 1450 West 64th Ave. in Marpole
neighborhood in Vancouver. The house will become a writing centre
and writer's retreat known as Joy Kogawa House. photo courtesy of Joy
Kogawa.
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 11:34 PM
Subject: Re: Naomi's Road
Thank
you, Chris, for bringing the mike to me tonight! I hope my interloping
intervention during the question period was not too inappropriate! At
least several people came to speak to me afterwards to express their
thanks. My wife, Keiko, and I didn't stay too long afterwards; I tend
to run out of steam these days, so we try to pick and choose where we
go and what we do!
you, Chris, for bringing the mike to me tonight! I hope my interloping
intervention during the question period was not too inappropriate! At
least several people came to speak to me afterwards to express their
thanks. My wife, Keiko, and I didn't stay too long afterwards; I tend
to run out of steam these days, so we try to pick and choose where we
go and what we do!
The operatic
performance was well done. I noticed the Ninomiya Kinjiro Statue on
the mobile in-set “piano” during the second time I saw this opera, just
as I found myself musing about the vignette about “Roughlock Bill” (a
Canadian Buffalo Bill as it were), about which I commented briefly. I
found the question about our schooling while in “camp” an interesting
question.
performance was well done. I noticed the Ninomiya Kinjiro Statue on
the mobile in-set “piano” during the second time I saw this opera, just
as I found myself musing about the vignette about “Roughlock Bill” (a
Canadian Buffalo Bill as it were), about which I commented briefly. I
found the question about our schooling while in “camp” an interesting
question.
Best wishes to you, for you and your work!
Tim Nakayama.
Rev. Timothy Nakayama and sister Joy Kogawa reunited at the One Book
One Vancouver launch at the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch in
May 2005. The siblings had not seen each other in 10 years. photo
Todd Wong
Wednesday evening, May 17, 2006. (it's now tomorrow the 18th!)
Among the questions was one about school during our internment.
I
mentioned that at the beginning there appeared to be no provision for
our education. Ten women missionaries who came to Slocan City (who had
left Japan for North America because of the war – they had been sent by
missionary organizations from the USA, the UK, and Canada) – now they
were in Slocan City. They lived in a big house outside the camps but
helped us. In our gold-mining “ghost town” there was a small St.
Paul's Anglican Church and Parish Hall. So the women missionaries set
up a school in the Parish Hall for the high school students who were in
their final year whose time in school and opportunity for
graduation was cut off when all of us were sent to “camp”. So the
women missionaries organized classes in the parish hall to help those
so close to graduation.
mentioned that at the beginning there appeared to be no provision for
our education. Ten women missionaries who came to Slocan City (who had
left Japan for North America because of the war – they had been sent by
missionary organizations from the USA, the UK, and Canada) – now they
were in Slocan City. They lived in a big house outside the camps but
helped us. In our gold-mining “ghost town” there was a small St.
Paul's Anglican Church and Parish Hall. So the women missionaries set
up a school in the Parish Hall for the high school students who were in
their final year whose time in school and opportunity for
graduation was cut off when all of us were sent to “camp”. So the
women missionaries organized classes in the parish hall to help those
so close to graduation.
The time
went on the war didn't end and we were in the mountain wilderness
without any school. The authorities must have decided that some things
ought to happen. The carpenters in the camps were put to work to build
a two storey structure in “Bayfarm”, a camp between the old hotels and
buildings in Slocan City, North of Bayfarm, and “Popoff”, another
camp South of Bayfarm. The classrooms had green chalkboards in front
with a teacher's desk, and 2-person desks with bench (I remember having
to sit beside a girl at one of those desks). The school in Bayfarm was
given the name of “Pine Crescent School”. The School Principal was a
young Buddhist Priest, Takashi Tsuji recently returned from Japan where
he had been educated.
went on the war didn't end and we were in the mountain wilderness
without any school. The authorities must have decided that some things
ought to happen. The carpenters in the camps were put to work to build
a two storey structure in “Bayfarm”, a camp between the old hotels and
buildings in Slocan City, North of Bayfarm, and “Popoff”, another
camp South of Bayfarm. The classrooms had green chalkboards in front
with a teacher's desk, and 2-person desks with bench (I remember having
to sit beside a girl at one of those desks). The school in Bayfarm was
given the name of “Pine Crescent School”. The School Principal was a
young Buddhist Priest, Takashi Tsuji recently returned from Japan where
he had been educated.
In the meantime
high school graduates were rounded up to be trained in a short course
on how to teach by the retired inspector of schools of the Province of
B.C., and recruitment of various persons with skills, such as a
cosmetologist who taught personal cleanliness and hygiene, a
boat-building carpenter who taught us “manual training” (I remember
learning how to draf, and print letters at 60 degrees, how to read
blueprints, how to hammer nails straight, cut straight with a saw, how
to set the blade of a plane and plane wood, how to carve wood, and use
sandpaper, and varnish, etc.). We had been out of school for about a
year and a half (we didn't know how long we would continue to be in
camp), and many of us wouldn't “apply” ourselves, and the inexperienced
“greenhorn” teachers had a hard time with us, but during the year and
half we continued to be there we did about three year's school work.
About 10% of us caught up the lost time and got up to the grade level
we had lost.
high school graduates were rounded up to be trained in a short course
on how to teach by the retired inspector of schools of the Province of
B.C., and recruitment of various persons with skills, such as a
cosmetologist who taught personal cleanliness and hygiene, a
boat-building carpenter who taught us “manual training” (I remember
learning how to draf, and print letters at 60 degrees, how to read
blueprints, how to hammer nails straight, cut straight with a saw, how
to set the blade of a plane and plane wood, how to carve wood, and use
sandpaper, and varnish, etc.). We had been out of school for about a
year and a half (we didn't know how long we would continue to be in
camp), and many of us wouldn't “apply” ourselves, and the inexperienced
“greenhorn” teachers had a hard time with us, but during the year and
half we continued to be there we did about three year's school work.
About 10% of us caught up the lost time and got up to the grade level
we had lost.
The
weather was very cold in winter. There was a stove in each
classroom and I remember seeing the red hot stove pipes. If we faced
the stove we would feel the heat which was burning hot, but our
backsides remained freezing. We needed gloves or mits on our hands to
keep them warm, but we couldn't write or print with them on.
weather was very cold in winter. There was a stove in each
classroom and I remember seeing the red hot stove pipes. If we faced
the stove we would feel the heat which was burning hot, but our
backsides remained freezing. We needed gloves or mits on our hands to
keep them warm, but we couldn't write or print with them on.
The
story of “Naomi's Road” ends with our family going to the sugar beet
farming areas of Southern Alberta because we were not allowed to return
to Vancouver. During the upheaval about 1/6 of our population had been
“repatriated” — “back” to Japan. These words didn't apply to me so I
resented “repatriation” and “back” to Japan because Japan is not the
land of my birth, and I had never been to Japan in the first place.
The plan was to close the “camps” as quickly as possible. Those of us
who had not been repatriated were to be moved “East of the Rockies”.
At the end of August 1945 we moved to Coaldale, Alberta..
story of “Naomi's Road” ends with our family going to the sugar beet
farming areas of Southern Alberta because we were not allowed to return
to Vancouver. During the upheaval about 1/6 of our population had been
“repatriated” — “back” to Japan. These words didn't apply to me so I
resented “repatriation” and “back” to Japan because Japan is not the
land of my birth, and I had never been to Japan in the first place.
The plan was to close the “camps” as quickly as possible. Those of us
who had not been repatriated were to be moved “East of the Rockies”.
At the end of August 1945 we moved to Coaldale, Alberta..
Legislsation
in 1949 made sweeping changes in Canada, opening the opportunity of
immigration from all over the world into Canada, no longer with
preferences only from the UK and Europe, but from varous Asian
countries, and we were finally allowed as Japanese Canadians to return
to the 100-mile area along the Pacific Coast that had been designated
as a “protectect area” from 1942 until 1949 (even for 4
additional years after the war had ended. Also because all our
property had been auctioned off by government order without our
knowledge while we were still in camp, we had no place where we could
go back. By the time we were allowed to do so, people didn't have the
resources to make such a move, and most were too weary to do so. Most
stayed where there were now living. The centre of Japanese Canadian
population by then was Toronto.
in 1949 made sweeping changes in Canada, opening the opportunity of
immigration from all over the world into Canada, no longer with
preferences only from the UK and Europe, but from varous Asian
countries, and we were finally allowed as Japanese Canadians to return
to the 100-mile area along the Pacific Coast that had been designated
as a “protectect area” from 1942 until 1949 (even for 4
additional years after the war had ended. Also because all our
property had been auctioned off by government order without our
knowledge while we were still in camp, we had no place where we could
go back. By the time we were allowed to do so, people didn't have the
resources to make such a move, and most were too weary to do so. Most
stayed where there were now living. The centre of Japanese Canadian
population by then was Toronto.
I
graduated from high school in 1950, so was able to go to Vancouver to
attend the University of B.C. After graduating I continued at our
theological college adjacent to the UBC campus. This was the time when
some Japanese Canadians began to return to the Vancouver area so I
assisted the retired Priest, Canon Willam H. Gale who returned to
Vancouver after having helped many people in their resettlement in
Eastern Canada.. We learned by word of mouth about people who were
returning and began to re-group them into a congregation. Because our
church buildings had also been sold, we were offered the Chapel of the
Blessed Sacrament at St. James' Church in downtown Vancouver East,
where the Japanese work had first begun in 1904. Fr. Gale led the
Services in Japanese on Sunday afternoons when the church was not being
used by others, and since I couldn't read Japanese just as most of
Canada-born Japanese couldn't, he gave me a 1926 Ro-maji
(Romanized) Edition of the Japanese Book of Common Prayer so I could
participate in the Services. We also used St. George's Church in the
Fairview district – one of the areas where the Japanese had once lived
– (near the Vancouver General Hospital) for our work among the young
people.
graduated from high school in 1950, so was able to go to Vancouver to
attend the University of B.C. After graduating I continued at our
theological college adjacent to the UBC campus. This was the time when
some Japanese Canadians began to return to the Vancouver area so I
assisted the retired Priest, Canon Willam H. Gale who returned to
Vancouver after having helped many people in their resettlement in
Eastern Canada.. We learned by word of mouth about people who were
returning and began to re-group them into a congregation. Because our
church buildings had also been sold, we were offered the Chapel of the
Blessed Sacrament at St. James' Church in downtown Vancouver East,
where the Japanese work had first begun in 1904. Fr. Gale led the
Services in Japanese on Sunday afternoons when the church was not being
used by others, and since I couldn't read Japanese just as most of
Canada-born Japanese couldn't, he gave me a 1926 Ro-maji
(Romanized) Edition of the Japanese Book of Common Prayer so I could
participate in the Services. We also used St. George's Church in the
Fairview district – one of the areas where the Japanese had once lived
– (near the Vancouver General Hospital) for our work among the young
people.
These memories
were aroused by some of the questions after the performance. These
written recollections are a little fuller than the verbal presentations
I interjected after the performances of the opera at Bainbridge
Island's Woodward Middle School and in the Auditorium of the new
downtown Seattle Public Library.
were aroused by some of the questions after the performance. These
written recollections are a little fuller than the verbal presentations
I interjected after the performances of the opera at Bainbridge
Island's Woodward Middle School and in the Auditorium of the new
downtown Seattle Public Library.
Tim.
Music with Marnie and Todd – photo Deb Martin
Asian Canadian Culture Online Project: now on video – historic Nov 26 Head Tax redress protest
Asian Canadian Culture Online Project:
now on video – historic Nov 26 Head Tax redress protest
Check out the ASIAN CANADIAN Culture Online Project. There is a
whole collection of stories, art projects etc created by Asian Canadian
youth.
I was really surprised to discover a video of the Nov 26 protest,
against the ACE program proposed by the Liberal Government and the
National Congress of Chinese Canadians – which called for NO APOLOGY
and NO Compensation – only Acknowledgement, Commemoration and Education.
Presently the Conservative government is consulting Chinese Canadians
across the country and promising Apology, Comensation for head tax
payers and spouses. Hopefully head tax sons and daughters will
not be Excluded from collecting for their predeceased fathers and
mothers who paid the head tax but who did not live long enough for
Apology and Compensation.
Check out this video – if you look and listen carefully, you will see
me holding a megaphone and leading chants of “Apology Now,” “We want
Head Tax Payer Redress”, and even “NCCC – doesn's speak for me!”
Calling for a Just and Honourable Redress
By Alex Mah
Vancouver, British Columbia
picture: PM Paul Martin arrives amidst protestors in Vancouver Chinatown
Film Synopsis
On November 26, 2005, government compliant groups met at the Chinese
Cultural Centre in Vancouver to put forward a “no apology, no compensation”
agreement-in-principle between the National Congress of Chinese Canadians
and the Liberal federal government represented by Multiculturalism Minister
Raymond Chan.
Individuals and community groups, representing head-tax payers, their
spouses, descendants and supporters organized a leafletting and information
line at the conference and subsequent photo opportunity attended by Prime
Minister Paul Martin at the SUCCESS complex in Chinatown.
The shorter online version is from a longer report produced by the Saltwater
City Television Collective and broadcast on the Shaw community channel in
Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley. Thanks to Karin Lee, Donna Lee and Jane
Kokan for use of video footage.
Check more of the great stuff from the Asian Canadian Culture Online Project:
This is a special anthology of written stories by or about Asian Canadian youth.
This unique short video collection by or about Asian Canadian youth also includes a showcase of talented video artists.
These selected short essays about contemporary history and personal experience are reflective of Asian Canadian communities.
Toronto Sun: Recalling two who were heroes (story of Kew Dock Yip and Irving Himel who launched appeal of Exclusion Act)
Toronto Sun: Recalling two who were heroes
(story of Kew Dock Yip and Irving Himel who launched appeal of Exclusion Act)
This
is a good story about how the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed
on May 14th, 1947. This would be a good annual celebration
for Chinese Canadians annually. I will mark it on my calendar for
next year which will be the 60th anniversary. Chinese immigration
was still heavily restricted until 1967, but it started the
reunification of families in Chinese Canadian families.
My
brother's older sister was born in Canada, but went to live with
friends in Hong Kong in 1926, because grandfather's business went
through some tough times. She married a man in Hong Kong, and was
unable to come back to Canada until after the repeal of the Exclusion
Act. She was then able to bring her 6 children to Canada in the
1950's. My cousins are great, and I consider them to be 3rd
generation Canadians like myself because our parents were born in
Canada, and our Grandfather came to Canada when he was 16 years old in
1882. Some of them have made immeasurable contributions to
Vancouver and Canadian society and I consider them my role models.
Recalling two who were
heroes
Pair helped kill Chinese Exclusion
Act
By BRODIE FENLON, TORONTO
SUN
There was no celebration this week to mark the
59th anniversary of the death of legislation that barred Chinese
immigrants from Canada.
Nor
was there a tribute to the two Toronto lawyers who played a key role
in the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act on May 14, 1947.
Yet
every Chinese immigrant in Canada owes a debt of gratitude to Kew Dock
Yip and Irving Himel, two lawyers who fought
and lobbied the Ottawa to amend a law that had all but barred Chinese
immigrants since 1923.
“All the new Chinese who are here today don't
know the history,” said Alfie Yip, 60, an
electrical engineer and son of the late Dock Yip. “Both of them were
social crusaders.”
At
the time, Himel was already a lawyer and a
civil rights crusader. Dock Yip was a law student at Osgoode Hall on his way to becoming
Canada's first lawyer of
Chinese descent. Both had experienced discrimination, Himel as a Jew.
They were also reservists with the Queen's Own
Rifles of Canada and were sharing a tent in Niagara in the early 1940s when the plan to change
the law was hatched, Alfie said.
The
Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 was passed by the Liberal government of
William Lyon Mackenzie King.
It
barred all Chinese immigrants from landing in Canada
except for a few special cases and was enacted on July 1, Dominion Day,
which became known in the Chinese community as “Humiliation Day.”
Instantly, families were divided, some forever.
The
act replaced the hated Chinese head tax, a toll on Chinese immigrants
that began in 1885 at $50 and peaked at $500 in 1904.
Himel and Yip organized a
committee of 20 people from Ontario and B.C. in 1945. They
gathered petitions and travelled to Ottawa to lobby
the government directly. The act was repealed two years later — the
same year Himel helped found the Canadian
Civil Liberties Association.
“It
was an important contribution to a really hideous thing in Canadian
history,” said Toronto lawyer Bert Raphael, a friend
of Himel's until his death in July 2001. He
and Yip died within a week of each other.
“Too often in this country, we forget our
heroes,” Raphael said.
http://torontosun.com/News/Chinese/2006/05/17/pf-1584162.html
//
Vancouver Sun: Proposal for documentary about first Chinese MP, Douglas Jung, wins $10,000 cultural award.
Vancouver Sun: Proposal for documentary about first Chinese MP wins $10,000 cultural award.
Kevin Griffin reports in Monday May 15th Arts and Life section:
The
second annual Channel M Diversity in Cultures Award went to Wesley
Lowe. He recieved $10,000 for his proposal to create a
documentary called I Am The Canadian Delegate about Douglas Jung,
who became the firest Canadian of Chinese descent elected as a member
of Parliament when the voters chose him to represent Vancouver Centre
in 1957.
second annual Channel M Diversity in Cultures Award went to Wesley
Lowe. He recieved $10,000 for his proposal to create a
documentary called I Am The Canadian Delegate about Douglas Jung,
who became the firest Canadian of Chinese descent elected as a member
of Parliament when the voters chose him to represent Vancouver Centre
in 1957.
Douglas
Jung was born in Victoria, British Columbia on Feb 24 1924 and passed
away on January 4, 2002. I think I first met him once during a
Chinese Head Tax redress meeting at Strathcona School back in the
1980's. I met him a few times after that when I became more
involved in Chinese Canadian issues too.
Jung
lived an extraordinary life with many firsts. During WW2, he
served with Pacific Command Security Intelligence. He was
the first university graduate of Chinese descent throught the Veterans
program, recieving a law degree in 1954.
He
always told a story about going to the United Nations in New York City,
as the chair of the Canadian Legal delegation, selected by Conservative
Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. When Jung went to sit down at
the Canadian table, he was prevented by UN officials, and told that it
was for the Canadian delegate, and that the Chinese delegate's seat was
“over there.” Jung's reply was simply, “I am the Canadian
Delegate.”
Jung
is best remembered for his parliamentary work to grant amnesty to the
many Chinese immigrants who came to Canada as “paper sons and
daughters.” Due to the racist head tax and exclusion act that was
levied against only immigrants of Chinese ancestry to Canada, some
people in efforts to reunite their families “bought” the Canadian birth
certificates or landing papers of other Chinese.
Jung went on to recieve both the Order of Canada, and the Order of BC in 1997, as well as many other community service awards. He was named Life President for the Veterans Unit 280, which serves the Chinese Canadian veterans such as my Grand-Uncle Daniel Lee, and Wesley :Louie's father.
FACE: losing it and finding it in intercultural America
FACE: losing it and finding it in intercultural America
Playing at Pacific Cinematheque until Monday
as part of explorASIAN festival.
Director in Attendance.
Genie
(Kristy Wu), doesn't like her mother who abandoned her when she was a
child to be raised by her grandmother. Kim (Bai Ling) was a timid
and conflicted 20 year old in the 1970’s,
who unexpectedly became pregnant after a date rape. Oh – the
shame of being a pregnant only daughter being raised by a single mother
in Chinatown.
The
solution: Kim's traditional mother
(Kieu Chinh) sets up a shotgun with the arrogant womanizing
father, Daniel (Will Yun Lee from
ELEKTRA) comes from a “good family”, wealthy enough to live in a nice
house in the suburbs. But Kim cannot abide the constraints of a
loveless marriage and flees.
Genie
grows up with Poh-Poh (cantonese for maternal grandmother). She
adores her, and resents her mother. But Kim decides to return to
attend Genie's graduation and maybe even move back to New York.
Meanwhile
Genie
(Kristy Wu) is dancing at a hip hip music club and meets Michael
(Treach), the African American DJ. They begin a relationship as
Genie struggles to keep the issues in her life separate. But
Michael follows her to Chinatown where Poh Poh's friends report that
Genie is seeing a “
Hahk Gwei” (Black Devil in cantonese). Oh – the shame of your grandaughter seeing a black-American man.
“I
know what you are,” Michael says to Genie, “You're an angry young black
man, in an Asian woman's body.” Michale detects all the simmering
anger that Genie emits, as she struggles to balance her life's issues,
love for her Poh Poh, resentment of her mother, trying to fit in with
contemporary American society, all the while spying on her “biological
father” as he has started up a new family in the suburbs.
FACE
is a sensitive movie about the issues faced by 3 generations of mothers
and daughters. It's about what you are too afraid to face, while
trying to save face, and also face up to new challenges and create a
new identity for oneself.
The Asian men in this movie
are either cads or wimps. The women are wimps or arrogant, or
lost in their own views of the world. But eventually they all
come closer to understanding each other – but not completely.
Director,
writer and producer Bertha Bay-Sa Pan has created a moving story with
great character development, leaving lots of room for what is left
unsaid, as well as what is spoken. She plays against stereotypes
and has also created such a wonderful male character of Michael, that
she has been lauded at African-American film festivals. Check
this out.
Mexican Hat Cake from Notte's Bon Ton French Pastry – my favorite birthday cake of choice – photo Todd Wong
Celebrating Todd's Birthday at Doolin's with Gung Haggis paddlers: Jonas, Rita, Deb, Todd, Christine and Jim – photo Rebecca