Ping Pong

Ping Pong was - is a first for British Budget Movies. It deals with a section of British Society so long 'ignored' stereotyped and often ridiculed. The Chinese still today in the London of 2000 talked about as 'a closed community'. But have we ever tried to go half way to "opening" that community? Ping Pong deals with a thorny issue of Identity perceived not only from the Euro-Centric stand point but also from the Asiatic view point. Where does Elaine Choi stand -what is she? Until she is caught up in Sam Wongs wishes Elaine has never really thought about her idenity in this world. Sam Wong and his family change all this. Elaine finds prejudice on both sides from the place that she calls home -London and from the place that she's being told she should regard as her home - China and the Chinese.This film was a first dealing with the issue of bi-cultural identity. In 2000 it's central theme is even more relevant than it was when Ping Pong was first given a limited cinema release. Sadly this film did not spark of more interest in this section of British society neither have some deeply ingrained institutional preconceptions changed. It is a sad fact that the Chinese community is still one area of ethnicity where dodgy stand-up comics feel they can still gain cheap laughs. Three cheers to Palace Pictures -Malcolm Craddock and Michael Guest for having the guts at least to try something different.We need more Films like Ping Pong, better ones to carry on what was a truly remarkable and brave artistic decision. Po Chih Leong I think showed that in the right hands Britain does have some half decent British-Chinese Actors. Finally I think this film is a fitting tribute to actor Robert Lee who sadly died not long after the completion of post production on this film. Robert Lee's performance in this film I think is truly wonderful.

This is truly one of the great independent movies of all time. A profound story about our place in the universe. Lucy Sheen is perfect. She shines as a Chinese transplant who is torn between her cultural background and the London world she must maneuvers through. The rest of the cast is good, too. The situations and locations are all deeply imagined, opening up a world that comes alive in all its complexities.

Saw this originally in the theater, then went back and saw it again. Caught it on cable once several decades ago. Wish I could find a DVD copy. Why don't they made more movies like this--heartfelt, quirky, searching. Deeply moving for those who feel lost and adrift in their own lives.

...and before someone else makes a detailed political statement about PING PONG, let me say that I'm not a valid Bravo fan. Granted, it's very entertaining with some delightfully humorous surprises as well as an interesting story. It's something that Hollywood critics would expect from the genre. Others, including myself, would find this pretty boring. Thankfully, a few nice touches including the "Woman Warrior" thing and the tall tower of glasses being poured with wine add greater interest. It gets a little slow towards the end, but tends to build back up later on. You can suspect how good an independent foreign movie is, and there's one way how. When there's a restaurant scene that has somebody filling spoonfuls of sugar into a cup of tea, it's a GOOD movie!

I found Ping Pong to be an attention grabber mostly because I like Lucy Sheen. If not for Lucy this would be a good movie but maybe not one I would include in my personal collection as I have done. I give this opinion because the film does tend to be a bit ethnic. Hence it might interest a specific audience but not everyone. Ms. Sheen is perfect for he role as the lawyer because she is attractive and talented. The actual story line might appeal to a somewhat limited audience. However a beautiful lady like Ms.Sheen appeals to a lot of viewers! I would tell people interested in Asian cinema to see this British movie too!

"Political angle aside, sideswipes about China's communist apparat are only to be expected, PING PONG primarily earns its stripes as a treatise about a young British-Chinese woman's double consciousness in forging her own identity in an occidental capital without obliterating her ethnic roots, like the "woman warrior" she watches on television or reads in the picture-story books when she was young, Elaine is fascinated by her cultural background, but at the same time, as a modern woman, she is dismissive of its shibboleth, so revered by the older generation, perhaps, that is why she finds kindred spirit in Sam's younger son Mike (Yip, the most naturalistic performer among the fold), who looks totally anglicized on the surface, which, in time, will be encroached by the oriental filial obligation."

read my full review on my blog: cinema omnivore, thanks