Event

DisOrient 2018 Opening Night Film - The Jade Pendant

The Jade Pendant (2017) 106 minutes Hong Kong, USA
Chinese, English Directed by Po-Chih Leong

This film is a lifetime wish fulfilled. Im following the Chinese tradition in using a story from the past to reflect on contemporary America with its issues on race. Jade Pendant is a love story set in a turbulent period in 19th century America. It is based on a true incident. It tells of a young Chinese woman trying to make her dream come true. She is caught between two warring factions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Her journey ends in one of the largest mass lynchings in American history.

The is the story of the Chinese in the gold mines, the building of the railroads, and the struggle to survive. It is told from a Chinese point of view, rarely seen in American cinema. I feel privileged to tell one story out of thousands of the Chinese experience in America. I have avoided the stereotype of the Chinese male being the action hero. In this story he is an aspiring cook who meets his match and falls in love with a young Chinese girl who knows her kungfu. Food and love have always been a potent mix. The story focuses on the interactions in the Chinese community. It is an exciting story with a strong emotional core.

Post-Screening Q&A with Director Po-Chih Leong and Author L.P. Leung

Ticket Stub provides entry into the Opening Night Reception at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art from 9:30pm-11:30pm with live music, presentation by Vishavjit Singh, poetry, and introduction to some of the filmmakers who will be screening their films at DisOrient 2018.

For more information about the schedule for the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon, please visit www.disorientfilm.org.