THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD

Lauded by the LA Times’ Michael Wilmington as “independent in the best sense of the word,” adding “the emotions are felt, the textures are true; the film, rich and moving,” this beloved masterwork from direc- tor Nancy Kelly (her only narrative feature to date) is a harrowing and inspiring tale of resilience, survival, and unexpected romance. After being sold into marriage by her destitute father, Lalu (a fiercely com- manding Rosalind Chao) is transported from China to the American Old West against her will. Stranded far from home in a treacherous, alien land and pawned off from one male owner to the next, Lalu must learn to navigate her own independence while consistently being treat- ed as property. Co-starring Oscar® winner Chris Cooper as a sympathetic saloon owner and set against the dusty yet sumptuous backdrop of a thriving Idaho gold-mining town at the turn of the 20th century, Thousand Pieces of Gold was based on the life of Chinese American pioneer Polly Bemis and adapted from San Francisco author Ruthanne Lum McCunn’s novel. Discover—or revisit—this sweeping epic as it was meant to be seen in director-approved 4K restoration. US/UK 1990, 105 min Director Nancy Kelly