Chan is Missing

Director: Wayne Wang

Cast: Wood Moy, Marc Hayashi

“Chan is Missing” is the sophomore film from acclaimed (sorta) director Wayne Wang (best known for “The Joy Luck Club”, and “Smoke”). It’s a very small film which tells a simple story of two cab drivers who are looking for a man named Chan who allegedly disappeared with their money. However what the film really becomes is a\one of the most brilliant commentaries on cultural contact I have seen on film. Set in San Francisco and about Chinese- Americans trying to live their life in America. It’s really a story about real Chinese-Americans living in the United States, not the stereotypical characters shown in films and television at the time (the film was made in 1982). Despite some poor acting from some of the small characters, who are obviously not actors but more friends and family doing the director a favor, the film is very real feeling. Exceptional acting from our two leads gives the film a real documentary feel, as does the extras in the background looking directly into the lens.

To elaborate more on the basis of the film, Moy and Hayashi play Jo and Steve. An Uncle/nephew pair who decide to start up their own cab company, and accept the help of a friend of Jo’s named “Chan”. He is in charge of the financial arrangements, but unfortunately when he is to deliver their $4000 he ends up MIA. So Jo and Steve decide to take on their own investigation onto the whereabouts of their missing business associates. The adventure takes them (and the viewer along) around the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Not long after the concept of the lost money itself gets lost in the onslaught of political and cultural problems of them and their friends and families life. This could be enough to turn some viewers off. However this is also part of the films charm.

Like I said the acting from Hayashi and Moy is superb. Especially Wood Moy, a small round droopy looking man who steals your admiration almost immediately. You cannot help but like him. He is also the perfect counter for the young enthusiastic, smart cracking Marc Hayashi. The chemistry between the pair is spot on. Chan is Missing could almost be an Asian-American “Clerks” or “Slacker”. It is especially reminiscent of Clerks (though it arrived almost a decade earlier) when it come to its charm!

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.0