This program runs like a book club: you watch the selected film at your leisure, then join other participants on Zoom at 7pm about the last Monday of each month to discuss. These online sessions will consist of a 20-25 minute period where several general questions about the film are discussed, followed by a 7-8 minute breakout session into smaller groups. Most movies are available free on Kanopy.com or YouTube. Kanopy can be accessed through a web browser or an internet-connected t.v. A Kanopy login account requires a library card. Please watch the movie and then join us to discuss.

Not only a visual feast for the eyes, but also a biographical portrait of a tough and enterprising immigrant Chinese lady intertwined with an analysis of how Chinese cuisine was affected by historical events in China throughout the 20th century. Cecilia Chiang, the matriarch of modern Chinese cooking, tells the story of her life, starting with her privileged upbringing in Beijing, her visit to San Francisco to see her sister, and her accidental undertaking of opening a Chinese restaurant called The Mandarin, which ended up keeping her in the U.S. Right away she knew she wanted to focus on the cuisine from her own childhood, which hailed from the great pre-Mao culinary houses. Directed by Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club), this film surveys modern Chinese history through the lens of her family’s life as well as the fate of traditional cuisine.

The Northwest China Council's Movie Night is a program to promote better understanding of Chinese history, culture, and current affairs. Please consider supporting its programming at www.nwchina.org.