The derogatory-sounding phrase “yellow fever” is used to describe someone's romantic preference for Asians in filmmaker Debbie Lum's PBS-aired Independent Lens documentary Seeking Asian Female. Chinese-American Lum profiles Steven, a sixtysomething quirky airport parking cashier who combs dating sites, collects photos, and makes visits abroad looking for an Asian woman to marry. Steven eventually returns from China with 30-year-old Sandy, who speaks little English but has plenty to say to bilingual Lum, who finds herself caught in the middle, constantly translating the new couple's bickering about an ex, wedding plans, and money troubles. Watching this relationship train wreck, the viewer can't help but wonder whether the couple will last. Featuring both the full-length film and a 53-minute abridged version, DVD extras include deleted scenes, and Lum's five-part webseries “They're All So Beautiful.” Recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Williams-Wood)
Seeking Asian Female
(2012) 83 min. In English & Mandarin w/English subtitles. DVD: $100: high schools & public libraries; $200: community colleges; $325: colleges & universities. New Day Films. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-57488-484-7. Volume 29, Issue 2
Seeking Asian Female
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: