Luka Yuanyuan Yang: Tales of Chinatown Special Screening with AAAAH!

Join us for a special screening of Tales of Chinatown by Luka Yuanyuan Yang with AAAAH! (Asian Artists And Activists Hub) on July 9. This will be your last chance to catch the film on the High Line Channel!

4:30pm | Check-in

4:45 – 5pm | Opening remarks

5 – 6pm | High Line Channel: Tales of Chinatown

For the High Line, Yang presents Tales of Chinatown, an exhibition of three of her short films: Cantonese Tunes on Mott Street (2022), The Lady From Shanghai (2019), and Tales of Chinatown (2019). By following her protagonists on the streets, through their communities, and into their homes, Yang amplifies the voices of those often denied the chance to share their own stories—individuals who have been forgotten, silenced, or misinterpreted.

Cantonese Tunes on Mott Street centers on three Cantonese opera enthusiasts in New York: a Chinese immigrant from a Cantonese opera family, a Hong Kong immigrant who moved to New York as a child, and a Chinese refugee from Cuba. For them, Cantonese opera performances serve as both a sanctuary and place of community.

The Lady from Shanghai tells the story of Ceecee Wu and her mother, Stella Wu, who left Shanghai in the 1940s, journeyed abroad, and eventually settled in San Francisco. Despite living in San Francisco for her entire adult life, 78-year-old Ceecee still sees herself as “the lady from Shanghai.” Her 101-year-old mother with amnesia shares this sentiment, muttering, “Where is this? Am I in Shanghai?” The film explores the construction of diasporic identity and its related challenges and obstacles.

Tales of Chinatown begins with a walking tour through San Francisco’s Chinatown, mapping the path of Orson Welles’ 1940s film, The Lady from Shanghai. Starting at the last surviving theater in Chinatown, the film wanders to iconic venues, including Shanghai Low and Forbidden City Nightclub. Along the way, Tales of Chinatown follows Chinese American nightclub dancer Cynthia Yee, and includes a series of interviews with historians Wylie Wong and David Lei as they trace the history of Cantonese opera in America.

Advance registration is encouraged. Walk-ups are welcome if the event isn’t at capacity. The event is rain or shine—the event space is fully covered.

AAAAH! (Asian Artists And Activists Hub)

AAAAH! is an Asian Art Organization based in New York, dedicated to elevating the global visibility of Asian art through art exhibitions and events.

AAAAH! uses art, physical spaces, and community activities to curate immersive cultural experiences. Harnessing the power of art and culture, we draw people together to coexist, observe, communicate, and express themselves, collectively creating and embracing our “present moment.” More info can be found on their website aaaahculture.org or at @aaaah.culture on instagram.

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Accessibility:

We encourage all persons with disabilities to attend. To request additional information regarding accessibility or accommodations at a program, please contact cHJvZ3JhbXMgfCB0aGVoaWdobGluZSAhIG9yZw==. Program venues are accessible via wheelchair, and ASL interpretation can be arranged two weeks in advance. If you require registration information for this event in Spanish or Simplified Chinese, contact us at cHJvZ3JhbXMgfCB0aGVoaWdobGluZSAhIG9yZw==.

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