Peter Wang Movies

Focusing on idiosyncratic characters and culture-clash comedy, rather than on the high-tech action its title might suggest, writer-director Peter Wang's The Laserman dramatizes the personal and professional struggles faced by a young Chinese-American scientist. When a bungled experiment leads to the death of his lab assistant, laser specialist Arthur Weiss (Marc Hayashi) is forced to reevaluate his life. His family provides little solace, as his attempts to deal with his mother (Joan Copeland), a Jewish woman obsessed with Chinese culture, and his brother (Tony Leung), a petty thief, lead only to more stress. Things begin to look up for Arthur when he receives a offer from a mysterious company to resume his research, but he soon discovers that his employers hope to use his developments for questionable ends, placing him in a disturbing moral crisis. Wang crowds the film with oddball personalities, opting for a quirkier sort of comedy than in his earlier A Great Wall, a more realistic look at the Chinese-American experience. Although the sheer number of these supporting characters and subplots often threatens to overwhelm the film, it attracted positive critical response for its offbeat humor. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Hui So-Ying plays the title role in the Hong Kong-filmed Ah Ying. A 22-year-old girl living with her seven siblings, Ah Ying is desirous of escaping her middle-class existence (not to mention her family's fish market). Inspired to pursue her dreams by the songs of American balladeer Jim Croce, Ah Ying enrolls at the Film Culture Center of Hong Kong to take acting lessons. Here she falls in love with her instructor, who is likewise seeking a means to break loose from his routine and become famous. Director Allen Fong based the scenario for Ah Ying on the actual experiences of star Hui So-Ying. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi