Second Pair

American Dreams in China

Dir: Peter Ho-sun Chan
Scrs: Zhou Zhiyong, Zhang Ji, Aubrey Lam (first draft)
Presenters: China Film Co., We Pictures
Cast: Huang Xiaoming, Deng Chao, Tong Dawei, Du Juan
2013 | Colour | DCP | Putonghua & English | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 112min

Peter Ho-sun Chan pivots his focus in his fourth film since his burgeoning career in the Chinese mainland. Instead of action dramas like The Warlords and Wu Xia, Chan taps into the frenetic energy of China’s reform and opening-up as well as rapid economic development. Inspired by Yu Minhong’s founding of the New Oriental Education & Technology Group, the film traces the rise of the English academy ‘New Dream’ established by three college friends.

Growing up in the 1980s and finding their way in the 1990s, the trio embodies different facets of educated youth. Meng Xiaojun (Deng Chao), from an intellectual family and the only one to study in the United States, is the idealist. Cheng Dongqing (Huang Xiaoming), devastated when his girlfriend Su Mei moves to America, finds his calling and opportunities in teaching. Wang Yang (Tong Dawei), the romantic, treasures their friendship above ambition. And their pursuit of the ‘American Dream’ binds them together yet draws them apart.

The comedy-drama explores male friendships, lost love and the entrepreneurial struggle. Chan’s motif of ‘three male leads’ is evident, a continuation from Tom, Dick & Hairy and The Warlords. American Dreams in China captures the yearning, frustration and pride-inferiority complex of Chinese attitudes towards the West, with the ‘American Dream’ reflecting the ‘Chinese Dream’. The nostalgic soundtrack featuring Beyond, Cui Jian, Chyi Chin and Julie Sue also adds subtlety to Chan’s meditation on the very definition of ‘success’.

The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.