A Great Wall

This gentle culture-clash comedy about a Chinese-American family from San Francisco visiting relatives in Beijing was released in 1986 with the tagline: "An American comedy made in China." Director / co-writer Peter Wang stars as Leo Fang, a Chinese-American Silicon Valley computer executive who moved from China to the U.S. when he was 10 and has never returned, although he has maintained steady correspondence with his sister (Guanglan Shen). After being passed over for a promotion, Leo takes a much-promised trip back to Beijing with his American-born wife Grace (Sharon Iwai) and their son Paul (Kelvin Han Yee)—who speak no Chinese—and they stay with his sister and brother-in-law (Xiaoguang Hu), who speak no English. Paul is astounded at his aunt's family's simple life and lack of creature comforts (no shower!), but he's attracted to his cousin Lili (Qinqin Li), who is still learning English, and becomes he involved in her ping pong club. Lili, who is supposed to be studying for the very competitive college entrance exam, is introduced to American values, while her Chinese boyfriend grows very jealous. Meanwhile, Leo plays interpreter between the families and gets to know his brother-in-law, soon joining his morning tai chi exercises. The family does in fact visit the Great Wall and the film features shots of both the modern city and the quiet suburbs but this is less travelogue than easygoing comic drama in which two families discover how much they are alike despite cultural differences. Promoted as the first American film shot in Red China, A Great Wall offers a rare glimpse of daily life in China in the 1980s. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)