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{{Short description|2014 American documentary film by Ian Cheney}} |
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{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
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| name = The Search for General Tso |
| name = The Search for General Tso |
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| image = The Search for General Tso poster.jpg |
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| caption = Film poster |
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| director = [[Ian Cheney]] |
| director = [[Ian Cheney]] |
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| producer = {{plainlist| |
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'''''The Search for General Tso''''' is a documentary film that premiered at the 2014 [[Tribeca Film Festival]]. It was directed by [[Ian Cheney]] and produced by Amanda Murray and [[Jennifer 8. Lee]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{cite news |last1=DeFore|first1=John |title='The Search for General Tso': SIFF Review |url= |
'''''The Search for General Tso''''' is a documentary film that premiered at the 2014 [[Tribeca Film Festival]]. It was directed by [[Ian Cheney]] and produced by Amanda Murray and [[Jennifer 8. Lee]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{cite news |last1=DeFore|first1=John |title='The Search for General Tso': SIFF Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/search-general-tso-siff-review-708453 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> [[Sundance Selects]] acquired it in December 2014, and it was released January 2, 2015, in theaters and on demand.<ref>{{cite web |author=The Deadline Team |title=Sundance Selects Nabs 'General Tso'; Warner Bros Shifts 'Pan' Release, Titles Horror Pic, More |url=https://deadline.com/2014/12/warner-bros-pan-release-horror-movie-gallows-relativity-studios-1201319150/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=10 December 2014 |accessdate=14 December 2014}}</ref> |
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==Synopsis== |
==Synopsis== |
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The film |
The film begins by exploring theories about [[Zuo Zongtang|General Tso]]. It then shifts focus to China,<ref name="thedailybeast.com">{{cite news|last1=Stern|first1=Marlow|title='The Search for General Tso': The Origins of America's Favorite Chinese Dish, General Tso's Chicken|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/19/the-search-for-general-tso-the-origins-of-america-s-favorite-chinese-dish-general-tso-s-chicken.html|website=The Daily Beast|date=19 April 2014 }}</ref> where few recognize the [[General Tso's chicken|eponymous dish]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=DeJesus|first1=Erin|title=Watch a Trailer for The Search for General Tso|url=http://eater.com/archives/2014/04/10/watch-a-trailer-for-the-search-for-general-tso.php|website=Eater|date=10 April 2014 }}</ref> The film then traces Tso's real-life history in the [[Qing Dynasty]] as well as the history of Chinese immigration to the United States.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com"/> Interviewed are a number of notable figures in [[Chinese-American cuisine]], such as [[Cecilia Chiang]] of the Mandarin, a world record-holder for restaurant menus<ref name="variety.com">{{cite web|last1=Foundas|first1=Scott|title=Tribeca Film Review: 'The Search for General Tso'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/tribeca-film-review-the-search-for-general-tso-1201161639/|website=Variety|date=23 April 2014 |accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> and Chef [[Peng Chang-kuei]], who claims to have invented the dish in Taiwan.<ref name="thedailybeast.com"/> |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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Around 2004, Cheney and his best friend were driving across America when they stopped at a Chinese restaurant "with red booths and neon signs" and ordered [[General Tso's chicken]]. The experience prompted them to investigate the history of Chinese food in America.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marsh|first1=Lisa|title=The Truth About Your Chinese Food: The Search For General Tso Premieres At The Tribeca Film Festival|url=http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/2014/04/the-truth-about-your-chinese-food-the-search-for-general-tso-premieres-at-the-tribeca-film-festival.html|website=Epicurious|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> |
Around 2004, Cheney and his best friend were driving across America when they stopped at a Chinese restaurant "with red booths and neon signs" and ordered [[General Tso's chicken]]. The experience prompted them to investigate the history of Chinese food in America.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marsh|first1=Lisa|title=The Truth About Your Chinese Food: The Search For General Tso Premieres At The Tribeca Film Festival|url=http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/2014/04/the-truth-about-your-chinese-food-the-search-for-general-tso-premieres-at-the-tribeca-film-festival.html|website=Epicurious|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> |
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In 2008, Lee wrote a book about the history of [[American Chinese cuisine|Chinese food in the United States]] and around the world, titled ''The Fortune Cookie Chronicles'',<ref name="book">{{cite book |title= The Fortune Cookie Chronicles | |
In 2008, Lee wrote a book about the history of [[American Chinese cuisine|Chinese food in the United States]] and around the world, titled ''[[The Fortune Cookie Chronicles]]'',<ref name="book">{{cite book |title= The Fortune Cookie Chronicles |last= Lee |first= Jennifer 8. |year= 2008 |publisher= Twelve Books |location= New York |isbn= 978-0-446-69897-9 |oclc= 225870250 }}</ref> documenting the process on her blog. She reported the unlikely, but true, story of how a batch of fortune cookies created 110 [[Powerball]] lottery winners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Needs Giacomo? Bet on the Fortune Cookie |author=Jennifer 8. Lee |date=May 11, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/nyregion/11fortune.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> To the surprise of many non-Chinese readers, she reported that fortune cookies are found in many countries but not China and that fortune cookies may have originated in Japan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Solving a Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside a Cookie |author=Jennifer 8. Lee |date= January 16, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/dining/16fort.html |work=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref><ref name="reallyjapan">{{cite web|title=Fortune Cookies are really from Japan. |url=http://www.fortunecookiechronicles.com/2008/01/16/fortune-cookies-are-really-from-japan/ |first=Jennifer |last=8. Lee |date=January 16, 2008 |work=The Fortune Cookie Chronicles |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725122139/http://www.fortunecookiechronicles.com/2008/01/16/fortune-cookies-are-really-from-japan/ |archivedate=July 25, 2011 }}</ref> Warner Books editor Jonathan Karp struck a deal with Lee to write a book about "how Chinese food is more all-American than apple pie".<ref name=womenofchina>[http://www.womenofchina.cn/Profiles/Writers/206808.jsp "Jennifer 8. Lee Attracts Americans with Chinese Food"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017201004/http://www.womenofchina.cn/Profiles/Writers/206808.jsp |date=2008-10-17 }}, October 13, 2008. Source: Xinhua/Translated by womenofchina.cn</ref> She appeared on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' to promote the book.<ref>[http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=163297 "Jennifer 8. Lee on The Colbert Report on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008"]</ref> The book was #26 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/books/bestseller/0330besthardnonfiction.html "Best Sellers, Hardcover Nonfiction, March 30, 2008"]</ref> |
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|title=Who Needs Giacomo? Bet on the Fortune Cookie |author=Jennifer 8. Lee |date=May 11, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/nyregion/11fortune.html |
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|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> To the surprise of many non-Chinese readers, she reported that fortune cookies are found in many countries but not China and that fortune cookies may have originated in Japan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Solving a Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside a Cookie |author=Jennifer 8. Lee |date= January 16, 2008 |
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|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/dining/16fort.html |work=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref><ref name="reallyjapan">{{cite web|title=Fortune Cookies are really from Japan. |url=http://www.fortunecookiechronicles.com/2008/01/16/fortune-cookies-are-really-from-japan/ |first=Jennifer |last=8. Lee |date=January 16, 2008 |work=The Fortune Cookie Chronicles |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725122139/http://www.fortunecookiechronicles.com/2008/01/16/fortune-cookies-are-really-from-japan/ |archivedate=July 25, 2011 }}</ref> Warner Books editor Jonathan Karp struck a deal with Lee to write a book about "how Chinese food is more all-American than apple pie".<ref name=womenofchina>[http://www.womenofchina.cn/Profiles/Writers/206808.jsp "Jennifer 8. Lee Attracts Americans with Chinese Food"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017201004/http://www.womenofchina.cn/Profiles/Writers/206808.jsp |date=2008-10-17 }}, October 13, 2008. Source: Xinhua/Translated by womenofchina.cn</ref> She appeared on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' to promote the book.<ref>[http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=163297 "Jennifer 8. Lee on The Colbert Report on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008"]</ref> The book was #26 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/books/bestseller/0330besthardnonfiction.html "Best Sellers, Hardcover Nonfiction, March 30, 2008"]</ref> |
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The book research is the basis of Lee's documentary collaboration with Cheney. In addition to premiering at Tribeca, the film played at the Seattle International Film Festival |
The book research is the basis of Lee's documentary collaboration with Cheney. In addition to premiering at Tribeca, the film played at the Seattle International Film Festival<ref>{{cite web |title=Festival 2014: The Search for General Tso |url=http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/search-for-general-tso |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517212405/http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/search-for-general-tso |archive-date=17 May 2014 |publisher=[[Seattle International Film Festival]]}}</ref> AFI Docs,<ref>{{cite web|title=AFI Docs - The Search for General Tso|url=http://afi.com/afidocs/films/thesearchforgeneraltso.aspx|publisher=afi.com}}</ref> and the Independent Film Festival of Boston.<ref>{{cite web|title=Independent Film Festival of Boston|url=http://iffboston.org/2014-film-list/|website=iffboston.com}}</ref> |
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==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
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* {{Facebook|GeneralTsoMovie|''The Search for General Tso''}} |
* {{Facebook|GeneralTsoMovie|''The Search for General Tso''}} |
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* {{IMDb title|3576038|The Search for General Tso}} |
* {{IMDb title|3576038|The Search for General Tso}} |
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* {{ |
* {{AllMovie title|596635|The Search for General Tso}} |
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* {{Mojo title|searchforgeneraltso|The Search for General Tso}} |
* {{Mojo title|searchforgeneraltso|The Search for General Tso}} |
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* {{Metacritic film| |
* {{Metacritic film|title=The Search for General Tso}} |
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* {{Rotten Tomatoes|the_search_for_general_tso|The Search for General Tso}} |
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|the_search_for_general_tso|The Search for General Tso}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Search For General Tso, The}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Search For General Tso, The}} |
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[[Category:2014 films]] |
[[Category:2014 films]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:2014 documentary films]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:American documentary films]] |
[[Category:American documentary films]] |
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[[Category:Cantonese-language films]] |
[[Category:2010s Cantonese-language films]] |
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[[Category:Chinese cuisine]] |
[[Category:Chinese cuisine]] |
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[[Category:Documentary films about food and drink]] |
[[Category:Documentary films about food and drink]] |
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[[Category:Films directed by Ian Cheney]] |
[[Category:Films directed by Ian Cheney]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
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[[Category:English-language documentary films]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:33, 5 September 2024
| The Search for General Tso | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Ian Cheney |
| Produced by |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Frederick Shanahan |
| Music by |
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Production company | Wicked Delicate Films |
| Distributed by | Sundance Selects |
Release date |
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Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Search for General Tso is a documentary film that premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. It was directed by Ian Cheney and produced by Amanda Murray and Jennifer 8. Lee.[1] Sundance Selects acquired it in December 2014, and it was released January 2, 2015, in theaters and on demand.[2]
Synopsis
[edit]The film begins by exploring theories about General Tso. It then shifts focus to China,[3] where few recognize the eponymous dish.[4] The film then traces Tso's real-life history in the Qing Dynasty as well as the history of Chinese immigration to the United States.[1] Interviewed are a number of notable figures in Chinese-American cuisine, such as Cecilia Chiang of the Mandarin, a world record-holder for restaurant menus[5] and Chef Peng Chang-kuei, who claims to have invented the dish in Taiwan.[3]
Development
[edit]Around 2004, Cheney and his best friend were driving across America when they stopped at a Chinese restaurant "with red booths and neon signs" and ordered General Tso's chicken. The experience prompted them to investigate the history of Chinese food in America.[6]
In 2008, Lee wrote a book about the history of Chinese food in the United States and around the world, titled The Fortune Cookie Chronicles,[7] documenting the process on her blog. She reported the unlikely, but true, story of how a batch of fortune cookies created 110 Powerball lottery winners.[8] To the surprise of many non-Chinese readers, she reported that fortune cookies are found in many countries but not China and that fortune cookies may have originated in Japan.[9][10] Warner Books editor Jonathan Karp struck a deal with Lee to write a book about "how Chinese food is more all-American than apple pie".[11] She appeared on The Colbert Report to promote the book.[12] The book was #26 on The New York Times Best Seller list.[13]
The book research is the basis of Lee's documentary collaboration with Cheney. In addition to premiering at Tribeca, the film played at the Seattle International Film Festival[14] AFI Docs,[15] and the Independent Film Festival of Boston.[16]
Critical reception
[edit]Film reviews were generally positive, with critics finding the premise amusing and the conclusion thought-provoking. Scott Foundas of Variety called it "a finger-lickin' good foodie docu" and John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter predicted, "Festival auds should eat it up."[1][5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c DeFore, John. "'The Search for General Tso': SIFF Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ The Deadline Team (10 December 2014). "Sundance Selects Nabs 'General Tso'; Warner Bros Shifts 'Pan' Release, Titles Horror Pic, More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ a b Stern, Marlow (19 April 2014). "'The Search for General Tso': The Origins of America's Favorite Chinese Dish, General Tso's Chicken". The Daily Beast.
- ^ DeJesus, Erin (10 April 2014). "Watch a Trailer for The Search for General Tso". Eater.
- ^ a b Foundas, Scott (23 April 2014). "Tribeca Film Review: 'The Search for General Tso'". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ^ Marsh, Lisa. "The Truth About Your Chinese Food: The Search For General Tso Premieres At The Tribeca Film Festival". Epicurious. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ^ Lee, Jennifer 8. (2008). The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. New York: Twelve Books. ISBN 978-0-446-69897-9. OCLC 225870250.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Jennifer 8. Lee (May 11, 2005). "Who Needs Giacomo? Bet on the Fortune Cookie". The New York Times.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Jennifer 8. Lee (January 16, 2008). "Solving a Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside a Cookie". The New York Times.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 8. Lee, Jennifer (January 16, 2008). "Fortune Cookies are really from Japan". The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Jennifer 8. Lee Attracts Americans with Chinese Food" Archived 2008-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, October 13, 2008. Source: Xinhua/Translated by womenofchina.cn
- ^ "Jennifer 8. Lee on The Colbert Report on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008"
- ^ "Best Sellers, Hardcover Nonfiction, March 30, 2008"
- ^ "Festival 2014: The Search for General Tso". Seattle International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014.
- ^ "AFI Docs - The Search for General Tso". afi.com.
- ^ "Independent Film Festival of Boston". iffboston.com.
