0 S 0 0 Breakthrough E Asian film festival explodes stereotypes "Where's the best place to eat in Chinatown?" That's the question tourists ask Jo most often when they enter his Asian Student Coalition (UMASC), begins Saturday and will run Af GCOLLAGE Asian-American Film Series FEBRUARY 3 7:00 Ourselves 8:00 Chan is Missing 10 7:00 Sewing Woman 7:15 Loose Pages Bound 8:15 A Great Wall 17 7:00 Made in China 7:30 The Fall of the 1= Hotel 8:30 Illusory Thoughts 24 7:00 Pieces of a Dream 7:30 So Far From India 8:30 Unfinished Business -MARCH 17 7:00 Rex 7:15 Freckled Rice 8:15 The Wash 24 7:00 The Boy Who Drew Cats 7:05 Inside Chinatown 8:00 Green Jacket 31 7:00 Afterbirth 7:30 Bittersweet Survival 8:00 Pickles Make Me Cry taxi cab. And unfortunately, Madrian and Cantonese are, for many people, merely differentiations in the same cooking style. From the opening shot to the closing credits, director Wayne Wang's film Chan is Missing compellingly exposes stereotypes and suffrages plaguing Chinese Americans in the first feature- length film produced by an entirely Chinese-American cast and crew. The film, simply stated, is original in its execution and compelling in its humanity. Chan is Missing is one of two films opening this weekend during the largest Asian American film series ever shown in the Midwest. Collage: An Asian American Film Series, developed by the University of Michigan through April, bringing twenty- b Donna one short and feature length films to the University. The selections, including Chan is Missing, represent some of the best independent filmmaking of the past two decades. Set in San Francisco's Chinatown and Manilatown, the film follows the search of two Chinese American cab drivers, Jo and son Steve, for a business partner who disappeared with $2,000 of their money. During their pursuit, thte two encounter a host of vibrant characters who assist them in coming to terms with their own identity and place in American society, as well helping them discover clues concerning Chan's whereabouts. But Chan is Missing unfolds into more than a humorous and entertaining detective search. The film becomes a sophisticated evaluation of culture, for Jo and Steve, as well as for the audience, to dismantle ethnic myths. "I feel like I'm in the same mess as Chan Hung," says humble cab driver and narrator Jo. "But I'm not even sure what the mess is." Through the humane eyes of Jo, as well as discussions with his tough prodigal son Steve, the film captures the tensions between old and new Chinese American attitudes. Not only does Wang depict the different generational planes dividing Chinese Americans, but he describes their political i conflicts. The story itself revolves around the murder of a Chinese- American man lad i9aolowho was killed by another Chinese American man over which flag - mainland China's or Taiwan's - to raise on the Chinese New Year. And while infighting may be one aspect of the problems facing Chinese American's search for an identity, Wayne remains clear as to who the real criminal within the detective story is. "You were born here, but they consider you a foreigner," says Henry, a chef and political activist within the Chinatown community. "Then we have to do something," responds Jo. "We have to fight." And the film does. Even the structure of the film itself, with its bits of untranslated Chinese, becomes a kind of artistic conspiracy. Wang also remarkably subverts existing Hollywood film stereotypes of Chinese Americans through Jo's brief witty allusion to Charlie Chan and the distortion of Chinese mysticism. And according to UMASC's resource person Victoria Kuohung, who has worked on developing the film series since last winter, reshaping the identity of Asian Americans is one the expected outcomes of the event. "I hope the film series will shatter the stereotypes people have of Asian Americans, and those created in Hollywood films," Kuohung said. Kuohung said it is important for the Asian-American community, as well as all Americans, to realize the harmful effects racial stereotypes perpetuate. As an example, she pointed to the derogatory representation of an Asian character in Sixteen Candles. But while the films deal with Asian-American issues, Kuohung stressed how important these films are for everyone. "It not just some kind of Asian thing," said Kuohung. "The silence that's forced upon Asian- Americans is the same that's force upon Native Americans, as well as others." Other established Asian filmmakers will also be presented in Collage. Works include veteran director Christine Choy's Bittersweet Survival and Loose Pages Bound. She is perhaps best know for her award winning documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin?. In addition to Choy's films, So Far From India is a powerful earlier documentary by Mira Nair, director of Salaam Bombay! Filmmakers new to the profession will also be showcased. Former Wall Street trader Henry Luk quit his job and sold his house to complete Green Jacket, his first effort. Also a recent comer, Patrik Chu filmed Illusory Thoughts, called "visually stunning" by The Village Voice. In the past, UMASC has coordinated a variety of larger events on campus both with other student groups and on its own. These include the Asian- American Women's Symposium, readings by Asian-American authors Lawson Inada and Frank Chin, and the annual Asian- American Art Show. The 1988- 1989 Asian American Lecture Series invited noted personages such as Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, film director Christine Choy, actress Jude Narita, and lawyer Helen Zia, who worked for the Vincent Chin case. The University of Michigan Asian Student Coalition was formed during Winter Term 1987 so Asian students could unite in fighting racism and bring various topics concerning Asian- Americans to the attention of the University community, Detroit metropolitan areas, and other college campuses. UMASC serves not only as a political and advocacy group but also as a network linking students from various ethnic backgrounds and campuses together. In addition, UMASC organizes workshops and discussions which help Asian- American students better understand their culture. licl I. Lu an s - Steay ndersi e 1 You've heard the rumors. Walking from Central Campus to your Hill dorm complaining about the Michigan winters, a companion mentions an underground tunnel system connecting all the University buildings. Wow, you say to yourself, if there were a tunnel system, maybe my hair wouldn't freeze every morning on the way to class. Well, there is a tunnel system beneath the University; it is extensive and elaborate, but it probably wouldn't save you much time getting to class. Getting in and out isn't easy, and the tunnels aren't the safest place for someone in a hurry. APRIL 7 7:001 9:00 Admission1 Eat a bowl of Tea to all events free (continues) 10 WEEKEND.. 10 MEOW February 21990