One Gorgeous Memoir, One Gorgeous Film! (ZAN! #6)
plus, a movie that opens this weekend!
Before jumping in with two recommendations for the week, a brief reminder: It’s opening weekend for Shortcomings!
This movie, which is based off a 2007 graphic novel by Adrian Tomine, marks Randall Park’s directorial debut and stars Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Debby Ryan, and more.
I personally can’t wait to see this film (I’m going tonight!), and will report back next week with my thoughts. For now, watch the trailer, and reserve your tickets.
And now, on to this week’s recommendations! By pure coincidence, both come from Chinese creatives.
A Memoir That You Won’t Be Able to Stop Reading
📖 Qian Julie Wang - Beautiful Country
Beautiful Country is an absolutely engrossing memoir that details Wang’s experience immigrating to New York City from China as a child. The title of the book refers to the Chinese word for the US — 美國 — which directly translates to “beautiful country.”
Wang is incredibly adept at communicating not just the vivid, intimate details of her life in a new country, but also her complex emotions and struggles as an undocumented immigrant child. (I’m still shivering at her description of working in a fish processing plant with her mother.)
Beautiful Country is absolutely gripping. It is eye-opening and uniquely human; a story of resilience amidst real pain. I never wanted to put this book down, up until the end.
You can purchase the book by clicking here.
A Film That Will Break Your Heart
🎥 Ash is Purest White (2018)
Directed by Jia Zhangke, “Ash is Purest White” is a drama that does it all.
The story is centered around Qiao (performed phenomenally by Zhao Tao), and her decades-spanning love for her gangster boyfriend, Bin (played by Liao Fan).
Expect to watch a drama, filled with betrayal and tragedy (and possibly no happy ending). But there are lighter moments too — like Qiao’s clever scheming and conning her way through the city, and her self-sacrificial love for Bin.
The movie is also a vivid depiction of a changing China (it spans from 2001 to 2018), including rapid urbanization and the growth of the surveillance state.
Another thing that struck me was the regional Chinese accent of the main characters, which I’m still trying to pin down. If you’re a Mandarin speaker, you’ll be struck by how unique the tones and sound are!
Amazon Prime members can stream this movie for free here. It’s also available for purchase on other streaming platforms. Check out the trailer below.
🙇🏻♀️ Now, it’s your turn!
There are four things you can do to support this newsletter.
Share it with a friend who might be interested (here’s a handy button below).
Recommend me something to include on the newsletter. (You can email me at zan.newsletter@substack.com or DM me on Instagram at @rebeccaericsonhua. Don’t worry, I’ll give credit wherever it’s due!)
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
If you’ve read this far and haven’t subscribed yet — now’s the time! :)
Until next time,
Rebecca
I just bought the book, you sold it to me in that review :)