| Series |
American history in video
|
| Abstract |
Amy Chen's acclaimed new documentary The Chinatown Files reveals the hidden story of Chinese-American men and women who were hunted down, jailed, and targeted for deportation during the Cold War hysteria of the 1950's and l960's. Their interviews are interwoven with rare home movies, photographs and archival films exploring the prejudice and xenophobia surrounding U.S.-China relations. During the McCarthy era witchhunts, the loyalties of over ten thousand American citizens of Chinese descent were questioned based on their ethnicity and alleged risk to national security. Henry Chin, a laundry worker and president of the Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance and the China Daily News, describes how "Chinese immigrants came to America for a better life for themselves and the loved ones they left behind in their impoverished villages." Yet for sending money home, his friends were charged by the U.S. government for trading with the enemy and his life was shattered by constant FBI surveillance and harassment. Other people featured in the film include several members of Mun Ching, the Chinese American Democratic Youth League in San Francisco who were harassed by the FBI. Several agents speak candidly of the FBI objectives in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and New York. The Chinatown Files is a cautionary tale of how nationalist paranoia can quickly lead to racially-motivated violations of civil rights and liberties. It serves as a dramatic and enduring reminder of the fragility of constitutional protections, encouraging viewers to reexamine the democratic promises of the American government and to hold all of society responsible when rights are infringed. |
| General note | Title from resource description page (viewed May 24, 2011). |
| Spec. audience char. |
For College; Adult audiences. |
| Other forms | Previously released as DVD. |
| Language | Chinese; English, subtitles in English. |
| Awards note | Hawaii International Film Festival, 2001 |
| Awards note | Henry Hampton Award, Council on Foundations, 2002 |
| Awards note | Museum of Modern Art, New Documentary Series, 2001 |
| Awards note | Notable Videos for Adults, ALA 2002 |
| Awards note | Women in the Director's Chair, 2001 |
| Genre/form | Documentary films. |
| Genre/form | Nonfiction films. |
