Italian Premiere | Out of Competition
Former nightclub dancer Coby Yee decides to get back on stage again after joining the senior dance troupe Grant Avenue Follies. In their heyday, they were all part of the golden age of San Francisco Chinatown, expertly captured in Arthur Dong’s seminal
Forbidden City, Usa. In their advanced ages, they band together to go on tour for the last time, bridging once isolated Chinese communities in the US, Cuba and China. (In Havana in particular, their co-performance with local Chinese Opera singers sparked a vibrant renaissance in the city’s dwindling Chinese community.)
An emotive journey back to her father’s homeland in China gives Coby a chance to reflect on familial memories and observe the startling transformation of urban landscapes. The film stands as a poignant chronicle of Coby’ s final journey before her passing at 93, preserving her indomitable spirit.
Chinatown Cha-Cha, as a film, was started on a lark. Six years ago, visual artist Luka Yang traveled to San Francisco for an artist residency, where she aimed to document the personal histories of Chinese performers in America, hoping to uncover stories that went beyond those of well-known figures like actress Anna May Wong. There, she met Coby Yee, a dancer in her 90s who would become the protagonist of her film. Charmed by her glamorous and wry demeanor, Yang embarked on a filmmaking journey, resulting in her documentary directorial debut.
GUEST:
Luka Yuanyuan YANG, director
Dian SONG, co-producer
Cynthia YEE, actress
Pat CHIN, actress
Marleen LUKE, actress
Jeanette CHIN, actress
Shari MATSUURA, actress
Dennis TOM, actor
Luka Yuanyuan Yang
Luka Yuanyuan Yang is a visual artist and filmmaker who weaves documentary and archival materials into diverse mediums like film, photography, artist books, installations, and performances. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, as well as many film festivals. Her first feature film
Chinatown Cha-Cha has received support from The Gotham, Doc Edge, Pingyao International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, CNEX, Shanyi International Women’s Film Festival, and Aranya Waves Film Festival. Luka’s artwork was collected by KADIST Foundation. She has received support from institutions such as Asian Cultural Council and Asymmetry Art Foundation.
FILMOGRAPHY
2024 – Chinatown Cha-Cha