Chinese Restaurants on DVD
Discover the Chinese Diaspora through your stomach.
The quickest way to someone's heart is through their stomach. Follow Cheuk Kwan as he travels the globe in search of the stories behind the Chinese Restaurants.
"Where ever I travel, I always search for Chinese Restaurants. I know that not only will I get delicious Chinese food, but inside every restaurant I will discover a personal story, a unique story of courage, survival and hope." - Cheuk Kwan
In the 15 part documentary series, Chinese Restaurants, filmmaker Cheuk Kwan takes us on a global journey behind the kitchen counters to share the very personal stories of Chinese restauranteurs.
It is neither a cooking show (although there are massive amounts of food are prepared) nor is it a travel show (even though they travel to 13 vastly different countries). It is rather a show about civilization and culture and very much about the human spirit.
6 years in the making, Kwan not only shows us the diversity of the Chinese culture, but how strong the culture is regardless of the environment people find themselves in. It really is a testament to the will and strength of character possessed by Kwan's subjects. These restauranteurs have overcome adversity and navigated the many obstacles and hardships offered by new countries with grace and determination.
What the documentary series lacks in production and execution, it makes up for in subject and content. The stories are fascinating: ranging from the doctor turned local celebrity tv chef, to the widow who made her husband's restaurant a local landmark, to the man who walked from China to Turkey.
Tissa Films self-distributes the 15 part series on 5 disc specially edited for the DVD release at ChineseRestauant.tv. They're divided up as follows:
Disc 1 - 'Song of the Exile' - Israel, South Africa, Turkey
Disc 2 - 'On The Islands' - Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba
Disc 3 - 'Three Continents' - Madagascar, Norway, Canada
Disc 4 - 'Latin Passions' - Peru, Brazil South, Argentina
Disc 5 - 'Beyond Frontiers' - India East, Brazil North, India West
Also included in the release is a 40 page booklet with pictures and essays of the journey as well as a CD of its soundtrack.
It's moving, compelling television that should make everyone hungry for more.
