Itzhak Perlman: American Masters

Hollywood Chinese

From the first Chinese-American film produced in 1916, to Ang Lee's triumphant Brokeback Mountain nine decades later, this films brings together a group of actors, writers, directors -- and iconic film images -- to examine how Chinese people have contributed to and been portrayed in an industry that was often ignorant and dismissive about race. Moving far beyond the stereotypical and exotic images of Suzy Wong and Bruce Lee, such artists as Wayne Wang, Joan Chen, David Henry Hwang, Nancy Kwan and Amy Tan, among many others, share their experiences of being "the other." These storytellers and film clips from more than 90 films -- some dating back to the 1890s -- weave a rich tapestry and complex history.