These two films are packaged together for the first time in this set. Directed by Wayne Wang and based on the writings of Yiyun Li (The Joy Luck Club), both gave slow, steady insight into the immersion of Chinese culture into the United States and the obstacles that come with birthing the sacred into the modern.
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is the first feature included. The film is a look at the life of a Chinese woman in her early forties who is recently divorced. Her father comes from China to visit her, perhaps to console her, but their lives have taken such different routes that their relationship seems to far too bridge. Her father is ethical and philosophical and secretive, while she, partly due to her experience in the United States, sees an enormous gray area in front of her at all times. The film is beautifully shot and once you get used to the subtitles you will be wholly enraptured. It’s a little slow at first but once it reveals the heart of the story it becomes quite introspective quite quickly. The special features include interviews with Yiyun Li and Henry O and a photo gallery. While they aren’t as in depth as I would have hoped they are deserving of a one time glancing.
The Princess of Nebraska is the second feature and is loosely related to A Thousand Years of Good Prayers. Perhaps they are best related in spirit but the film has been described as the “untold umbilical story” to A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, according to IMDB.com. This film relays the story of and 18 year old, Chinese born girl in her freshman year at a university in Nebraska. When she finds she is four months pregnant she travels to San Francisco to see what her “options” are concerning the pregnancy. Although many seem to prefer this film over the aforementioned, I felt this one was much more disjointed in its effort to allow you to see into the life of this young lady’s unique (or not so unique?) situation. The abortion struggle is very tense at times but the story is told in a very ambivalent way so as to not really make suggestions one way or another. It’s a very observational film I suppose but its slow pace haunts it. The special features include an interview with Yiyun Li, video diaries, a photo gallery, and a “Day in the Life Of” featurette.
Overall, not being a woman or of Chinese heritage, I had a hard time relating to these films but found them interesting nonetheless. For my money A Thousand Years of Good Prayers was very good and worth the price of admission. The Princess of Nebraska, on the other hand was much more specific in the story it was telling so if I were a young Chinese woman in the United States, I think I would likely have preferred it as it felt “younger” overall. Fans of Foreign Films and specifically Yiyun Li will certainly want to check this out regardless.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
