Arthur Dong’s Asian American Stories Blu-Ray Review – Vital Snapshots Of An Overlooked Perspective

With over 150 international film awards to his name, the full scope of Arthur Dong’s storytelling mastery is brought to light in this Blu-ray collection of films that explore the Asian American experience. This illuminating anthology includes four films spanning over 30 years that showcase Dong’s historically acute focus on Asian Americans at the crossroads with Hollywood, pop culture, tradition, immigration, racism, and genocide. The Academy Award®-nominated short documentary Sewing Woman (1982) is based on the life of Dong’s mother, a bittersweet journey of one woman’s determination to survive: from an arranged marriage in old China to the working class comforts of America. Forbidden City, U.S.A. (1989) profiles the groundbreaking entertainers from the renowned all-Chinese Forbidden City Nightclub in 1940s San Francisco. Hollywood Chinese (2007) is a smart and lively look at the ways the Chinese have been imagined in the movies, from silent classics to contemporary blockbusters. The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor (2015) chronicles the journey of a Cambodian doctor from his imprisonment by the Khmer Rouge to a harrowing escape to America, and from his Academy Award®-winning performance in The Killing Fields (1985) to his mysterious murder in Los Angeles Chinatown.

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Video Quality

This Blu-Ray release contains the four films on one disc which have been preserved and restored by the UCLA Legacy Project. Having all of these films on one disc may spark some concern but given the length of the titles, the encoding does not seem to be pushed beyond its limits. Sewing Woman and Forbidden City, USA are the most impressive visually thanks to the sumptuous 16mm source replete with lovely film grain. The transfer maintains a consistent picture throughout with nothing looking unnatural and no major instances of spiking. When you consider the age of the film and the condition of the source material, it is pleasing to see the material looking so alive. This gorgeous presentation all but eliminates every blemish to the 16mm source outside of the occasional white specks, tiny cuts, and other small signs of wear.

Hollywood Chinese and The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor seem to be completed with a combination of film and digital capture, and these both look excellent even if it is a change from the earlier work. Colors present as vivid as the initial source will allow with hues radiating off the screen. The clips utilized in Hollywood Chinese do not always look the best, but they are likely the best that could be sourced at the time the film was made. The transfers show off some fine detail in the environments and clothing of the subjects. There do not appear to be any issues with compression artifacts or any other such digital anomalies. This set does a wonderful job of giving life to the vital work of the filmmaker. 

Audio Quality

The new Blu-Ray is presented with a newly restored DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track for Hollywood Chinese and the English audio for The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor which are very pleasant. Sewing Woman, Forbidden City USA, and the Khmer audio for The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor are provided with newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio tracks that suit the material as well as the source will allow. The interviews and narration are the main focus, and they mostly hold up quite well considering the conditions of capturing some of these subjects. Most of them are present in stable environments, but some outings take you to more unpredictable spaces.

Certain strands of information are a bit muddled due to some of the limitations of the equipment but mostly things remain clear. There are fleeting fluctuations in the audio that seem to stem from the condition of the source material, but these are very brief and not an overwhelming issue. Considering the variables in play during these restorations, the results are a good experience for fans of the filmmaker. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who desire them. 

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this disc. 

Final Thoughts

Arthur Dong’s Asian American Stories is a selection of films that tackle engrossing topics with great care and understanding. From the smaller, more personal snapshots to the decades-spanning plight of a major segment of the population, you have stories that enlighten on every scale. The material is often harrowing, but there is enough variety within this presentation to avoid this being a grueling experience. Kino Lorber has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. If you are a documentary fan or interested in learning more about Asian American history, this one is an essential viewing. Highly Recommended 

Arthur Dong’s Asian American Stories will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on June 25, 2024. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Lorber has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.