Chinatown Cha-cha

Filmmakers in attendance. Film program will be followed by Q&A.

At the remarkable age of 92, Coby Yee, a former starlet and owner of the illustrious “Forbidden City Nightclub,” reclaimed her place in the spotlight with the senior dance troupe, Grant Avenue Follies. Led by Cynthia Yee, the ensemble brings to life the luminous nightclub era of San Francisco’s Chinatown, simultaneously shattering the conventional image of aging Asian women.

Their transnational tour across the US, Cuba, and China unfurls an exploration of diasporic Chinese entertainment and a profound understanding of their own Chinese American identities. In Havana, their co-performance with local Chinese Opera singers sparked a vibrant renaissance in the city’s dwindling Chinese community.

An emotive journey back to her father’s homeland in China gave Coby a chance to reflect on familial memories and observe the startling transformation of urban landscapes.

The film stands as a poignant chronicle of Coby’s final journey before her passing at 93, preserving her indomitable spirit. Meanwhile, the Grant Avenue Follies dance on, carrying the torch of their shared heritage.

Credits
Writer: Luka Yuanyuan Yang
Producer: Lou Wang-Holborn, Xu Xiao, Ding Dawei, Luka Yuanyuan Yang
Executive Producer: Guo Keyu
Director of Photography: Carlo Nasisse, Luka Yuanyuan Yang
Editor: Tang Qianni
Sound Designer: Li Xiaodan
Music: Li Daiguo