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China Girl

  • 1987
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
China Girl (1987)
A modern day Romeo & Juliet story is told in New York when an Italian boy and a Chinese girl become lovers, causing a tragic conflict between ethnic gangs.
Play trailer1:29
1 Video
74 Photos
CrimeDramaRomance

An Italian boy and Chinese girl fall in love in New York, igniting a conflict between their ethnic gangs.An Italian boy and Chinese girl fall in love in New York, igniting a conflict between their ethnic gangs.An Italian boy and Chinese girl fall in love in New York, igniting a conflict between their ethnic gangs.

  • Director
    • Abel Ferrara
  • Writer
    • Nicholas St. John
  • Stars
    • James Russo
    • Richard Panebianco
    • Sari Chang
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    2.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Abel Ferrara
    • Writer
      • Nicholas St. John
    • Stars
      • James Russo
      • Richard Panebianco
      • Sari Chang
    • 22User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:29
    Trailer

    Photos74

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    Top cast42

    Edit
    James Russo
    James Russo
    • Alby
    Richard Panebianco
    Richard Panebianco
    • Tony
    Sari Chang
    • Tye
    David Caruso
    David Caruso
    • Mercury
    Russell Wong
    Russell Wong
    • Yung Gan
    Joey Chin
    • Tsu Shin
    Judith Malina
    Judith Malina
    • Mrs. Monte
    James Hong
    James Hong
    • Gung Tu
    Robert Miano
    Robert Miano
    • Enrico Perito
    Paul Hipp
    Paul Hipp
    • Nino
    Doreen Chan
    • Gau Shing
    Randy Sabusawa
    • Ma Fan
    Keenan Leung
    • Ying Tz
    Lum Chang Pang
    • Da Shan
    Sammy Lee
    • Mohawk
    Johnny Shia
    • Jimmy Bing
    Stephan Chen
    • Mr. Tang
    Raymond Moy
    Raymond Moy
    • Tommy Chyan
    • Director
      • Abel Ferrara
    • Writer
      • Nicholas St. John
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.32.6K
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    Featured reviews

    7PeterMitchell-506-564364

    The beautiful Chang, a girl worth fighting for

    China Girl was a hip and very violent movie, I wish I saw at the cinema, when I had the chance. Italian boy falls for Chinese Girl-true romance, a reciprocated love. Now, here's the impasse: they're both related to warring gangs, even though the Italians, really the good guys, do have it in for the Chinese, where this Chinese Gang are part of a mafia, merely puppets on a string. When the Italian boy, Gino (an impressive Richard Panebianco) narrowly escapes having his lights punched out, when chased by the Chinese gang, the head the lovestruck girl's brother, this doesn't detur him or her, from further progressing the relationship, where they keep sneaking off like little children, despite warnings from their older protectors. As Wong, an Asian actor I love watching, says to her little Sis, Thai (an equally impressive Sari Chang) "You don't understand, you're nothing but a chink to them". I appreciated Wong's honesty, here, where honor runs high among this race. Wong was never truer in his words, too. Gino's older brother, Alby, and his friends are racist goons. In particular is red haired Caruso, who I loved in this, despite playing a d..khead immature character of loathing. One scene has him ordering egg rolls, while disrespectfully making squinting eyes at some Asian cooks nearby, while also insulting the ones serving him. Now that's a d..khead. Panebianco sets him straight defending the Chinese, where a physical fight almost ensues. It would of been good to see how it ended up, if Russo hadn't stepped in, but we know all too well, that Caruso would of one won, ending this conversation by getting Panebianco in a headlock, simmering him, then cutting him loose, where Panebianco would of just shrugged him off, and walked away. It is too, the worst fitting time, for these gangs to be in an escalating turf war, a war which of course, is also personal, caused by our love struck duo, as the Asian and Italian mafia head are trying to make a peace, a business negotiation. This is complicated by the arch enemy gangs, feuding, the main plot of the story, which I really liked. China Girl has great pumping music, it's finale song, I loved, after one of the most memorable and tragic climaxes I've seen. It's a simple message told throughout it's story, the consequences of hate and racism, that we don't just have to view it on screen. The exterior shot settings of Chinatown, and the Italian hood are well chosen. This Romeo and Juliet tale, minus the happy ending, but with stylized violence, a plus, has some great action sequences, one involving a shootout I loved, that ended with Caruso's crazed look, as he mouthed "Mother fu..ers" through clenched teeth. China Girl has it all, where the action/blood craving viewer will get his three dollars worth. One of the '88 movie treats. One of Ferrara's best. Personally, China Girl is his favorite, in his list of filmographies.
    7lost-in-limbo

    A story that never grows old.

    Director Abel Ferrara hit's the street's with this modern take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set amongst waring Italian and Chinese gangs… this is more so the younger generation… as the much older and wiser mafia / triad figures set out for peace so they don't draw unwanted attention from the man in blue. However these young-guns make it a battleground and caught between it is two love-struck lovers; a Chinese girl Tayn-Hwa and Italian lad Tony Monte. They don't care about colour or race, despite what's happening all around them and what it could do to them or even loved ones.

    There's no real surprises to the old hat, if simply low-key material (which was penned by Ferrara's collaborator Nicholas St. John), as we pretty much know how this dangerous story plays out and eventually finishes, however director Ferrara has a gritty, but devoted style and upbeat tempo that's uniquely his own that elevates the conventional framework with his striking eye for a sense of place and powerfully lasting imagery that's uncompromising. He does more than just direct from the screenplay. The concentration on the tough, smoky urban setting (with excellent location photography of New York's bordering neighbourhoods Chinatown and little Italy), helps build a seedy atmosphere where hatred and violence is simply waiting to boil over, as obsession and pride becomes a death wish. Ferrara polarises it very well, especially the conflict not between (which is still quite blistering), but within the same races seeking out honour in who they are ---- this is where it was at its strongest, because the forbidden love angle (while important to the plot's progression) did stall and take away from some of the underlining tension. Although outside of its pushy race card slant, it does feel like it's just building up these explosive acts to glorify its foreseeable conclusion. Joe Delia's melancholy score fits in perfectly.

    The performances are down-to-earth and genuinely projected by its cast. Richard Panebianco and Sari Chang are sympathetically touching as the two lovebirds. An admirable James Russo and especially a hot-headed David Caruso bring an unstoppable intensity to their roles. Russell Wong is quite laid-back in a sound performance, in his quest to please his elders by controlling his gang and that of his wayward sister. Journeyman actor James Hong pops up, as well as Robert Miano as heavies.

    You might call it lesser Ferrara compared to his other works, but it's involving and efficiently handled with his trademark raw and brutal edge shining through.
    7bkoganbing

    Romeo And Juliet of New York

    William Shakespeare's eternal tale of young love gets yet another version in China Girl. Despite the racial tensions between the Chinese of Chinatown and the shrinking Italian population of Little Italy, Sari Chang and Richard Panebianco find each other and find love. Now if only those who might become their prospective in-laws will stop the hate.

    China Girl was filmed completely on location in New York's neighborhoods of Little Italy and Chinatown. As the film says Little Italy where the fabled fictional Godfather had the Genco Olive Oil company is shrinking block by block as the Italians move out and a huge influx of Orientals move in and expand Chinatown. China Girl was done in 1987 so in twenty years the trend is exacerbated.

    Players like James Russo, Russell Wong, and David Caruso have all gone on to bigger and better things, they're certainly more known than the leads are now. Still Panebianco and Chang are an attractive pair of kids.

    The soundtrack is typical music from the Eighties in keeping with the times. Don't expect any songs for the ages like there were in West Side Story.

    China Girl is a nice retelling of Romeo and Juliet a story that as long as there's life on planet Earth will never go out of style.
    8Captain_Couth

    The Cinema of Abel Ferrara: China Girl.

    China Girl (1987) was an urban take on the classic Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet (courtesy of Nicholas St. John). The film was directed by the gritty street level film maker Abel Ferrara. Instead of the Capulets and the Montaques, this version involves two crime families (the Italian Mafia and Chinese Triads). Not only is this film about true love but it's about honor and old school loyalty. Instead of trying to follow the source material verbatim, Ferrara re-invents the classic tale.

    I happen to be a big fan of Abel Ferrara. His style of film making is very unique and it's greatly missed in Hollywood. We need more directors like him. Someone who not only can make a movie on the cheap but produce a well thought-out film that'll force you to think and look outside the box.

    Highly recommended.
    6RaulFerreiraZem

    China Girl

    Ferrara's China Girl, like many other films by the director, namely The king of new york and The funeral, is not afraid to approach tough political themes but also like these films just mentioned above is insufficient in its discourse and not captivating enough to make the viewer actually care about these issues. The whole plot and message relyes on the relationship between Tony and Tye , the problem is that even though that is the case the film barely shows them bonding and falling for each other and we are just supposed to believe that they love each other even though the movie give us no reason whatsoever why they should. That for me is the biggest reason why the film is insufficient in its message and ends up just leaving the viewer indifferent to the issues there presented. With that said, it's not a bad movie, it has it's charm.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Out of all of the films he has directed, Abel Ferrara has stated that "China Girl" is his favorite.
    • Quotes

      Gung Tu: We must never allow ourselves to be divided by war... or to be interfered with by police investigations... all because a few reckless children cannot live within our tradition of our society. Our responsibility is to control our children.

    • Crazy credits
      After the credits there is a line: Dedicated to the people of Chinatown and Little Italy.
    • Alternate versions
      The UK video version was cut by 7 seconds to remove the use of a butterfly knife. The Columbia DVD features the same cut print.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Princess Bride/China Girl/The Big Town/The Pick-Up Artist/I've Heard the Mermaids Sing (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Compulsion
      Words and music by Crispi Cioe, Joe Delia and Sherryl Marshall

      Performed by Fonzi Thomton

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    FAQ

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 20, 1988 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Krieg in Chinatown
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Great American Films Limited Partnership
      • Street Lite
      • Vestron Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,262,091
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $531,362
      • Sep 27, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,262,091
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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