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Wayne Wang's Films Explore the Chinese American Experience.

Filmmaker Wayne Wang. With the films "Chan is Missing," "Dim Sum," "Slamdance" and "Eat a Bowl of Tea," to his credit, Wang is the first Chinese-American film director to make an impact in the American film industry. Wang has focussed his work around the problems of identity and assimilation, and other issues in the lives of Chinese-American immigrants. He made his first film, "Chan is Missing," on a budget of only $22,000, but the mystery set in San Francisco's Chinatown became both a critical and box-office success. Chan's latest movie, "Eat a Bowl of Tea," takes place just after World War Two, when Chinese women were first allowed to immigrate to America in large numbers. It will be shown next week on public television's "American Playhouse" series. (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast on Wednesday, July 26, 1989).

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Eugene Richards Captures Emergency Medicine on Film.

Photojournalist Eugene Richards. His latest book, "The Knife & Gun Club: Scenes from an Emergency Room," has been called the "modern day version of Dante's 'Inferno.'" It chronicles the trauma center of Denver General Hospital, where Richards spent twelve to twenty hours a day photographing and talking to the staff.

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An Elaborately Silly Movie.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the controversial new film "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover." It's by British director Peter Greenaway, who directed "The Draftsman's Contract."

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

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22:18

Wayne Wang's Films Explore the Chinese American Experience.

Filmmaker Wayne Wang. With the films "Chan is Missing," "Dim Sum," and "Slam Dance" to his credit, Wang is the first Chinese-American film director to make an impact in the American film industry. Wang has focussed his work around the problems of identity and assimilation, and other issues in the lives of Chinese-American immigrants. He made his first film, "Chan is Missing," on a budget of only $22,000, but the mystery set in San Francisco's Chinatown became both a critical and box-office success.

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22:18

Tom Hulce on Playing a Slain Civil Rights Worker.

Actor Tom Hulce. He was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Mozart in the movie "Amadeus," and for a Golden Globe for his role as brain-damaged garbage man in "Dominick & Eugene." More recently, Hulce played the black-sheep of the family in "Parenthood." Next week, Hulce stars in "Murder in Mississippi," a made-for-TV movie about the freedom summer.

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21:33

Wayne Wang Discusses His Early Life.

Filmmaker Wayne Wang. With the films "Chan is Missing," "Dim Sum," "Slamdance" and "Eat a Bowl of Tea," to his credit, Wang was the first Chinese-American film director to make an impact in the American film industry. Wang went on to direct "The Joy Luck Club," and the films "Smoke" and "Blue in the Face." His newest film is set in Hong Kong, "Chinese Box" starring Jeremy Irons.

Filmmaker Wayne Wang

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