Now Chinatown

Customer Reviews:

Very Emotional.......2007-07-04

If you can get over some of the bad acting, you'll see that this a very touching story. Lianne X. Hu plays Lee, who is a virtual slave in America, working at a restaurant to support her family back in China. Lee's life consists of going to work and going back home everyday, as she is forbidden to go out, have friends, or even listen to American music.

All this while she endures emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of those she depend on. Her only hope is her new friend, Steve, who seems to be the lone customer in the restaurant, except for a group of geriatric mahjong players. As Lee and Steve's friendship begin blossoming onto a romance, they are alienated from each other due to a misunderstanding.

It's heart wrenching to learn the extent of Lee's hardships as the movie unfolds. This movie was low budget, but I didn't mind the no-frills sets. My only gripe is that most of the actors were obviously amateur. (including director Steve Dunning, who really should stick to directing.) I did enjoy Ms. Hu's performance, she was very convincing as Lee, showing a wide range of emotion. My only problem with the script is that Lee and Steve gave up on each other too easily. After the misunderstanding, I can't believe they parted ways without one or both of them DEMANDING an explanation for what happened, especially with Steve's job situation. (I won't give away the ending.)

All in all, the story was good and I did shed some tears.

Moving.........2004-11-04

A really good film! You find yourself caring a lot for the main character before the movie ends..Put together on a modest budget this was a pleasant discovery and I love films like these..indies that nobody knows about but has a lot of feeling and depth..Great little movie!

Great movie.......2004-05-26

I finally got a chance to see the movie and read all
the stuff on the dvd. I thought it was great. I love
the music in the movie. I wish the deleted scene
could be in the movie. I feel in some scenes you can
take the emotional level higher, may be in slow
motion. I read all the things that you're done in past
and I find it amazing how you can endure through all
the hard works and at the same time remain such a
great personality. What I see in class was a genuine
filmmaker. I hope the fire inside you keep burning
and good luck with your career.

This is a good movie!.......2004-05-26

I read the other reviews and it's a shame that when we like something we rarely take the time to find a place to write about it but if we have a complaint then we do. I guess that's why there are complaint dept. at stores and no "i like it" departments. i'm glad people are writing good things about this film because i agreed with them, but i know there are many more people who like the film that don't bother to find a place to write, but the complainers do.

MOVING!.......2004-04-24

We now are a nation of immigrants, only now we don't look alike as we did during the 1800s when most coming into the nation came from Europe. This is a moving story of one such person with clearly Asian features who tries to make a go of it here. What she learns is that freedom is a relative term. She is bounds by the cultural rules and regulations within Chinatown, her Now. But what about her Tomorrow? Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Actor Steven Dunning takes the viewer down the dark alleys of a place even Chinese Americans no longer see as we move outward into the suburbs for better schools. But Lee is trapped--or is she?

This low budget indy makes many statements and awakens the complacency within us. Now I understand why this film was named one of the top ten DVDs of the year 2002. It has earned this honor.

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