Golden Gate Girls

Director S. Louisa Wei first became acquainted with the work of filmmaker Esther Eng in 2001. In this documentary, Wei sets out to learn more about this Asian-American cinematic pioneer who worked in Hong Kong and the United States. With the help of San Francisco pharmacist James Wong, who purchased Eng's photo archives, Wei visits the Chinatown apartment building where Esther grew up, and meets the latter's younger sister, Sally. She and Esther were two of 10 children who read and wrote Cantonese. Esther's love of movies blossomed when she worked at a local theater, where she took inspiration from Anna May Wong, the only Chinese actress to make a mark in the American films of the silent era. In 1935, Eng made her first feature, Heartaches, which did so well in Hong Kong that she got an offer to make films there. Eng went on to direct five, starting with 1937's National Heroine. Historian Judith Mayne compares Eng to Dorothy Arzner in the way that she worked in a man's field, dressed in a masculine style, and had relationships with women. Eng left Hong Kong due to the war with Japan. In 1941, she helmed Golden Gate Girl, which featured an infant Bruce Lee (critic Law Kar believes it was his first film). Upon her father's death, Eng took over his film importing business and started a production company. Later, she moved to New York and became a restaurateur, living there until her death in 1970. Although there is little discussion about the quality of Eng's films, Wei has done right by this largely forgotten figure who deserves a place at the table with Arzner and Ida Lupino. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)