Tze Chun wrote and directed Children of Invention and it's a decent movie, particularly for a first-time filmmaker. But I didn't care for it. It's on Netflix Instant, and of all the new releases, it was the highest recommended to me, although I'm beginning to doubt Netflix's recommendation service. It assumes that because I watch mostly foreign flicks and documentaries on Netflix that a slow-moving, aimless movie about not much of anything must be in my wheelhouse. (Seriously: Anyone else have any pet peeves about the Netflix Recommendations?)
The film is as the synopsis describes: A semi-autobiographical tale about a family that's evicted from their home and forced to squat in a model apartment in an unfinished Boston building. When the mother, Elaine (Cindy Cheung), is arrested for her accidental involvement in a pyramid scheme, the children, Raymond (Michael Chen) and Tina (Crystal Chiu) are left to fend for themselves,...
The film is as the synopsis describes: A semi-autobiographical tale about a family that's evicted from their home and forced to squat in a model apartment in an unfinished Boston building. When the mother, Elaine (Cindy Cheung), is arrested for her accidental involvement in a pyramid scheme, the children, Raymond (Michael Chen) and Tina (Crystal Chiu) are left to fend for themselves,...
- 8/20/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
Tze Chun's "Children of Invention" took home the grand jury prize for outstanding fiction film and also picked up acting awards for Michael Chen and Crystal Chiu at the 2009 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, which concluded Thursday with a screening of Yojiro Takita's "Departures" at the Aratani/Japan America Theater in Los Angeles.
The outstanding director award went to So Yong Kim for "Treeless Mountain," which also picked up acting awards for Hee Yeon Kim and Song Hee Kim.
David Boyle's "White on Rice" received the outstanding screenplay prize and an acting award for Justin Kwong.
First-time filmmaker Mark Tran received the outstanding first film award for his feature "All About Dad."
Christopher Wong's "Whatever It Takes" received the grand jury prize for outstanding nonfiction film, while Alexander Lee's "The Real Shaolin" was recognized with a special jury prize.
The audience awards went to Sarba Das' "Karma Kalling,...
The outstanding director award went to So Yong Kim for "Treeless Mountain," which also picked up acting awards for Hee Yeon Kim and Song Hee Kim.
David Boyle's "White on Rice" received the outstanding screenplay prize and an acting award for Justin Kwong.
First-time filmmaker Mark Tran received the outstanding first film award for his feature "All About Dad."
Christopher Wong's "Whatever It Takes" received the grand jury prize for outstanding nonfiction film, while Alexander Lee's "The Real Shaolin" was recognized with a special jury prize.
The audience awards went to Sarba Das' "Karma Kalling,...
- 5/11/2009
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Note perfect in its depiction of a family slowly edging toward disaster, Tze Chun’s Children of Invention balances precariously between horror story and children’s fantasy. Yet it’s rooted in such unassailable reality that it feels like it’s taking place right under your nose.
Elaine (Cindy Cheung) tries hard to be a good mother to her two young children, Raymond (Michael Chen) and Tina (Crystal Chiu). As a single mother, she’s constantly torn between the requirements of making a living and the need to give her little ones the time and emotional support they crave. She’s tried to shield them from the desperate straits they’ve fallen into, but Raymond is old enough and sufficiently observant to know that Mom’s in trouble. She sharply tells Raymond that he has to be more responsible, that he has to help her out by looking out for Tina.
Elaine (Cindy Cheung) tries hard to be a good mother to her two young children, Raymond (Michael Chen) and Tina (Crystal Chiu). As a single mother, she’s constantly torn between the requirements of making a living and the need to give her little ones the time and emotional support they crave. She’s tried to shield them from the desperate straits they’ve fallen into, but Raymond is old enough and sufficiently observant to know that Mom’s in trouble. She sharply tells Raymond that he has to be more responsible, that he has to help her out by looking out for Tina.
- 3/31/2009
- by Peter Martin
- Screen Anarchy
(With Sundance rapidly wrapping up and an intimidating backlog of films to write about, I'll be publishing a number of brief capsule reviews over the next few days. If a specific title piques your interest and you'd like to see a more substantial review, let me know in the comments.) Tze Chun's micro-budget Sundance Spectrum entry Children of Invention sneaks up on you. Inspired by the filmmaker's own childhood experiences, the film follows Raymond (Michael Chen) and Tina (Crystal Chiu), two first generation Chinese kids growing up in Boston with Elaine (Cindy Cheung), their overworked, illegal immigrant single mom. After Elaine's savings vanish in a vitamin sales pyramid scheme, the family loses their home and moves into a model condo unit in an unfinished building. With her estranged husband slacking on child suppo ...
- 1/24/2009
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
(With Sundance rapidly wrapping up and an intimidating backlog of films to write about, I'll be publishing a number of brief capsule reviews over the next few days. If a specific title piques your interest and you'd like to see a more substantial review, let me know in the comments.) Tze Chun's micro-budget Sundance Spectrum entry Children of Invention sneaks up on you. Inspired by the filmmaker's own childhood experiences, the film follows Raymond (Michael Chen) and Tina (Crystal Chiu), two first generation Chinese kids growing up in Boston with Elaine (Cindy Cheung), their overworked, illegal immigrant single mom. After Elaine's savings vanish in a vitamin sales pyramid scheme, the family loses their home and moves into a model condo unit in an unfinished building. With her estranged husband slacking on child suppo ...
- 1/24/2009
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
Premieres
To showcase the diversity of contemporary independent cinema, this section offers the latest work from American and international directors and world premieres of highly anticipated films.
Adventureland / U.S. (Director-screenwriter: Greg Mottola)
In 1987, a recent college graduate takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park and discovers the job is perfect preparation for the real world. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader. World premiere
Brooklyn's Finest / U.S. (Director: Antoine Fuqua; screenwriter: Michael C. Martin)
After enduring vastly different career paths, three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location. Cast: Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin. World premiere
Earth Days / U.S. (Director: Robert Stone)
The history of our environmental undoing through the eyes of nine Americans whose work and actions launched the modern environmental movement. World premiere, closing-night film
Endgame / U.K. (Director: Pete Travis; screenwriter: Paula Milne)
A...
To showcase the diversity of contemporary independent cinema, this section offers the latest work from American and international directors and world premieres of highly anticipated films.
Adventureland / U.S. (Director-screenwriter: Greg Mottola)
In 1987, a recent college graduate takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park and discovers the job is perfect preparation for the real world. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Bill Hader. World premiere
Brooklyn's Finest / U.S. (Director: Antoine Fuqua; screenwriter: Michael C. Martin)
After enduring vastly different career paths, three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location. Cast: Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin. World premiere
Earth Days / U.S. (Director: Robert Stone)
The history of our environmental undoing through the eyes of nine Americans whose work and actions launched the modern environmental movement. World premiere, closing-night film
Endgame / U.K. (Director: Pete Travis; screenwriter: Paula Milne)
A...
- 12/4/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Because the Dramatic Main Competition category can only hold so many titles, the Spectrum becomes a second option for Sundance staff to include so more dramatic fair. 12 of the 16 selected are world premieres (I caught Johnny Mad Dog at Cannes and missed out on Lymelife at Tiff) from returnee directors such as Sterlin Harjo, Jeff Lipsky and Bobcat Goldthwait. Dramatic films screening in Spectrum are: Against the Current / USA (Director and Screenwriter: Peter Callahan)—Facing the anniversary of his pregnant wife's tragic death, thirty-five-year old Paul Thompson enlists the help of two friends to help him swim the length of the Hudson River. Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Justin Kirk, Elizabeth Reaser, Mary Tyler Moore, Michelle Trachtenberg. World Premiere The Anarchist's Wife (La Mujer del Anarquista) / Germany/Spain (Directors: Marie Noelle and Peter Sehr; Screenwriters: Marie Noelle and Ray Loriga)—During the Spanish Civil War an idealistic young lawyer combating Franco's
- 12/4/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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