as a monk Shaolin (2011): Jackie Chan This is a Fu. g Kun olin Sha in trained master role arts tial mar variation on the Chan has become known for.
MORE THAN KUNG FU
Missing in Action: Asians in Film by Nicole Bernardo
M
ovies are meant to trans-
from the silver screen. Apart
port the audience. Whether
from a few well-known
Asian Americans, or just Asians in general, have notoriously been missing from the silver screen.
through a fantastical or realistic
actors and actresses mainly
reflection, films frequently por-
known for action or mar-
tray the people we hope to be or the
tial arts movies (think Jackie Chan,
worlds we might live in. We can see
Bruce Lee, Ken Watanabe, and Lucy
In 1957, Japanese actress Miyoshi
ourselves in the comically dysfunc-
Liu), there is a void where an entire
Umeki was the first Asian actress to
tional family or imagine saving the
race should be. Young people today
win an Oscar, and even then, “For much
world as a government vigilante. So
can idolize white, black, and Latino
of the 20th century, movies or plays
as an Asian American, why don’t
actors and actresses as they domi-
featuring Asian characters used actors
I see myself reflected back?
nate the film industry romanticizing
without accounting for the distinctions
Asian Americans, or just Asians in general, have notoriously been missing 16 Arts & Culture
martial arts masters to look up to.
and exaggerating our lives, but Asian
among various ethnic groups,” (The
children are left with little more than
Seattle Times). Though she received