The Search for General Tso: Difference between revisions
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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 | last= Lee | first= Jennifer 8. |year= 2008 |publisher= Twelve Books |location= New York |isbn= 0-446-69897-0 |url= |
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= 0-446-69897-0 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/books/chapters/first-chapter-fortune-cookie-chronicles.html | 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 |
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|title=Who Needs Giacomo? Bet on the Fortune Cookie |author=Jennifer 8. Lee |date=May 11, 2005 |url= |
|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 |
|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= |
|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"], 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,<ref>{{cite web|title=Seattle International Film Festival|url=http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/search-for-general-tso|website=siff.net}}</ref> AFI Docs,<ref>{{cite web|title=AFI Docs - The Search for General Tso|url=http://afi.com/afidocs/films/thesearchforgeneraltso.aspx|website=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> |
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=Seattle International Film Festival|url=http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/search-for-general-tso|website=siff.net}}</ref> AFI Docs,<ref>{{cite web|title=AFI Docs - The Search for General Tso|url=http://afi.com/afidocs/films/thesearchforgeneraltso.aspx|website=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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Revision as of 07:22, 20 February 2017
| The Search for General Tso | |
|---|---|
| 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 was released January 2, 2015, in theaters and on demand.[2]
Synopsis
The film's opening explores theories about General Tso, before moving 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 invented the dish in Taiwan.[3]
Development
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
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
- ^ a b c DeFore, John. "'The Search for General Tso': SIFF Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ The Deadline Team. "Sundance Selects Nabs 'General Tso'; Warner Bros Shifts 'Pan' Release, Titles Horror Pic, More". Deadline.com. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ a b Stern, Marlow. "'The Search for General Tso': The Origins of America's Favorite Chinese Dish, General Tso's Chicken". The Daily Beast.
- ^ DeJesus, Erin. "Watch a Trailer for The Search for General Tso". Eater.
- ^ a b Foundas, Scott. "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 0-446-69897-0. 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}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Jennifer 8. Lee Attracts Americans with Chinese Food", 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"
- ^ "Seattle International Film Festival". siff.net.
- ^ "AFI Docs - The Search for General Tso". afi.com.
- ^ "Independent Film Festival of Boston". iffboston.com.