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Last updated: 12:33 pm
September 19, 2008
Posted: 1:36 am
September 19, 2008
WAYNE Wang began making films in the 1980s with modest but enjoyable efforts such as "Chan Is Miss ing" and "Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart."
Then he felt the lure of Hollywood, and got behind the camera for less-than-stellar flicks including "Maid in Manhattan" and "Last Holiday," the latter with Queen Latifah.
(He also helmed one of my personal favorities, the little-seen "Chinese Box," with Gong Li, Maggie Cheung and Jeremy Irons.)
Now I can report that Wang has returned to his roots with "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers," an intelligent look at family dynamics set in a boring Washington State suburb where Bible-thumping Mormons come knocking on your door.
The elderly Mr. Shi travels to the US from China to visit his daughter, Yilan, a newly divorced college librarian he has not seen in 12 years.
Mr. Shi, the old-fashioned sort, is displeased by the modern life Yilan is leading - from the food she eats to the married man she's having an affair with.
For her part, Yilan finds her father to be an annoying intruder who rummages through her personal items.
His one new friend is an elderly Iranian woman he meets sitting on a park bench.
The film's high point is the affecting portrayal of Mr. Shi by an actor known only as Henry O. (He's been on "The Sopranos," if that matters.)
Faye Yu is solid as Yilan, and Vida Ghahremani adds class as the Iranian woman.
Wang's direction is nuanced, and while "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" isn't his best work, it is light years ahead of his Hollywood output.
A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS
Father doesn't know best.
In Mandarian, Farsi and English, with English subtitles. Running time: 83 minutes. Not rated (mature themes.) At the Lincoln Plaza, 63rd Street and Broadway.
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