Chan is Missing (1982)

Chan is Missing is a movie that every cinemaphile should watch (orientalizing sinophiles however, should consider watching something less thought provoking). It is the story of two Chinese American cab drivers, Jo and his nephew Steve, who give large portions of their life savings to Chan Hung, to get taxi licenses. Then Chan goes missing. The film turns into a humorous mystery as we follow Jo searching for the missing Chan.

This mvoie was one of the first American films to portray Chinese Americans in a realistic way, and was shot with a budget of less than $20,000. It is the film that launched Wayne Wang’s career. Wayne Wang is a director for all of those interested in cinema to examine well. I would argue he is one of the best directors in the country, and possibly the best Asian American director in the nation.

Chan is Missing makes the veiwer hyperaware that they are watching a film. While I was watching this several people asked if it was a documentary, because of the camera shots and acting. Then in that peculiar way that happens the film became so hypermediated that it became immediate, and real. You felt like you were not just watching a real cab driver searching Chinatown for his missing friend, but that you are there, floating invisible behind him. This movie is not for thrill or action junkies, as I learned from constant questions about when it would end, but it is fantastic none the less.

The film completely obliterates any idea of a monolithic Chinese Americaness that could exist in the corners of your mind (along with obliterating postivist, vision-based epistemologies).  A must watch if you like good films. Otherwise, go watch Transformers 2. Really. I heard it was good. It’s got explosions n’ stuff.

Chan is Missing (1982)