Asian Canadian Film Series

Curated by Alexis Kienlen

May is Asian heritage month and I am delighted to be the curator of Metro Cinema’s first Asian Canadian film series. In a time when we are talking the whitewashing of Hollywood, and #Oscarssowhite, it is even more important to showcase Asian Canadian films and Asian-Canadian stories. As a person of mixed Asian descent, I grew up seeing very little of my extended family’s culture or history reflected on screen. It is my hope that this film series will introduce you to homegrown talent, educate you, make you laugh, scare you, and encourage you to talk about Asian Canadian history and identity. Special thanks to: Mari Sasano, Suzette Chan, Kathryn Lennon, Erin Fraser and Nathan Smith.

The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam

• May 18 @ 7pm

This feature documentary offers a whimsical tour through the history of Chinese magicians and performers in the Western world. Long Tack Sam was an internationally renowned Chinese acrobat and magician who overcame isolation, poverty, cultural and linguistic barriers and extreme racism to become one of the most successful acts of his time.