''Eat a Bowl of Tea'' is a 1989 film directed by

Wayne Wang Wayne Wang (; born January 12, 1949) is a Hong Kong–American director, producer, and screenwriter. Considered a pioneer of Asian-American cinema, he was one of the first Chinese-American filmmakers to gain a major foothold in Hollywood ...

based on the novel '' Eat a Bowl of Tea'' by

Louis Chu Louis Hing Chu (雷霆超) (October 1, 1915 – 1970) was an American writer who was a pioneer of Asian American literature. His only published work is the 1961 novel ''Eat a Bowl of Tea (novel), Eat a Bowl of Tea.'' After emigrating to New Jerse ...

. It is a Chinese romantic film starring

Cora Miao Cora Miao () is a Chinese actress who worked predominantly in Hong Kong cinema, Hong Kong films. During her career she was nominated for four Hong Kong Film Awards and four Golden Horse Film Festival, Golden Horse Film Festival awards, winning one ...

Russell Wong Russell Wong (; born March 1, 1963) is an American actor of film and television. He was one of the first actors of Chinese descent to hold a leading role in a primetime American television series, portraying Jian-Wa with Chi Muoi Lo portraying W ...

, Victor Wong, Siu-Ming Lau and

Eric Tsang Eric Tsang Chi-wai (; born 14 April 1953) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, and television host, best known for hosting the variety show '' Super Trio series'' on the Hong Kong television network TVB over 18 years. He currently hol ...

Plot

The story begins with exposition of the difficult lives of the first generation of male Chinese-American immigrants who were not allowed to bring their wives and families with them into the United States due to the

Chinese Exclusion Act The Chinese Exclusion Act was a United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. The law excluded merchants, teachers, students, travelers, and diplo ...

. For decades, these immigrant men have not seen their families they had left back in China. Ben (Russell Wong) is the son of one these immigrants and has just finished serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Due to the

War Brides Act The War Brides Act (59 Stat. 659, Act of Dec. 28, 1945) was enacted (on December 28, 1945) to allow alien spouses, natural children, and adopted children of members of the United States Armed Forces, "if admissible," to enter the U.S. as non-quota ...

, Ben is allowed to bring a bride back from China, which he does after an arranged marriage. Mei Oi (Cora Miao), the bride, besides being attracted to Ben also wants to see her father who emigrated to the U.S. before she was born. As one of the early couples of child-bearing age within New York's Chinatown, Ben and Mei Oi have to deal with the expectations of the entire Chinatown community as well as his father (Victor Wong). However, the pressures on Ben render him impotent, and in her confusion over his seeming lack of interest, Mei Oi succumbs to the attentions of Ah Song (Eric Tsang). Their affair creates complications for their own marriage and for the reputations of their fathers in the close-knit "bachelor society" of Chinatown. Wayne Wang in interview, SF 1980

Cast

as Mei Oi *

as Ben Loy * Victor Wong as Wah Gay * Siu-Ming Lau as Lee Gong *

as Ah Song (as Eric Tsiang Chi Wai) * Sau-Kei as Bok Fat (as Lee Sau Kee) * Yuen Fat Fai as Letter Writer * Fan Hui as Ben Loy's Mother (as Hui Fun) * Lan Law as Aunt Gim * Yuen-Yee Ng as Third Sister * Wu Ming Yu as Mei Oi's Mother * Ta Lei as Movie Translator (as Tat Lui) * Wai Wong as Chuck Ting * Philip Chan as Henry Wang * Yu-Yung Teng as Fat Man (as Tang Shun Nin) *

Jessica Harper Jessica Harper (born October 10, 1949) is an American actress and singer. Harper began her feature film career with a starring role in Brian De Palma's ''Phantom of the Paradise'' (1974), ''My Favorite Year'' (1982), as well as a role in '' Inser ...

as American prostitute (uncredited)

Critical reception

''Variety'' wrote "Wayne Wang returns to Chinatown with ''Eat a Bowl of Tea'' and recaptures the relaxed humor and deep emotions of his earlier ''Dim Sum'' in the process."

References

External links

* * {{Wayne Wang 1989 films 1980s romance films Films about Chinese Americans Films based on American novels Films directed by Wayne Wang Films about immigration to the United States Films set in 1949 Films set in the 1940s Films set in New York City