Finding Kukan

Streaming video - 2016

KUKAN, a landmark color film that revealed the atrocities of World War II China to audiences around the world, was the first ever American feature documentary to receive an Academy Award in 1942 and was considered lost for decades. When filmmaker Robin Lung discovers a badly damaged film print of KUKAN, she pieces together the inspirational tale of the two renegades behind the making of it -- Chinese American playwright Li Ling-Ai and cameraman Rey Scott.. Through a dynamic mix of verite, archival, and re-enactment footage, FINDING KUKAN creates an unforgettable portrait of a female filmmaking pioneer, and sheds light on the long history of racial and gender discrimination behind the camera, which continues to reverberate in Hollywood today..... “Based on extensive historical research and beautifully crafted film making, FINDING KUKAN explores how race and gender shaped the lives of Chinese Americans in U.S. society with special attention to the entertainment industry. It also illuminates how individuals and cinematic creations can play powerful roles in shaping U.S.-China relations.” Judy Wu, Professor & Chair, Department of Asian American Studies, University of California, Irvine.. “FINDING KUKAN demonstrates that re-discovering forgotten history can yield treasures as valuable as gold or jewels.” Peter Wong, Beyond Chron. Winner: Audience Award, Feature Documentary, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2017 & Special Jury Award, Hawaii International Film Festival 2016 more