Combination Platter is a 1993 drama film directed by Tony Chan starring Jeffrey Lau, Colleen O'Brien, and Chit-Man Chan. It is Chan’s directorial debut from a screenplay he co-wrote with Edwin Baker.
The film centers on Robert, a young Chinese undocumented immigrant living in Flushing, Queens, and his attempt to gain legal status as a U.S. citizen through a marriage of convenience. It premiered at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize for Chan and won a Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for Chan and Baker.
The film details the difficulties faced by Robert, young undocumented immigrant who works at a low-paying job in a Sichuan restaurant in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing. Seeking to obtain U.S. citizenship, Robert is told that a possible solution is to marry an American woman. Though he is initially hesitant towards the idea, he resolves to find someone who will marry him for a green card. In the meantime, Robert sends money to his parents back home in Hong Kong, along with letters which falsely portray a positive portrait of his life in America. One of Robert’s fellow waiters, Sam, is in major debt, which prompts him to pocket communal tips. A pair of regular customers at the restaurant, a young white man and his Asian-American girlfriend, make an impression on Robert.
Robert’s sympathetic boss Mr. Lee thinks business is too slow to create tax penalties for sponsoring Robert, and if he were to do so, it would take Robert about five years to get his green card. Robert also lets his street-smart friend Andy set him up with a shy white woman named Claire. However, Robert comes to realize he and Claire have hardly anything in common with each other. He ends up confessing to her that the real reason he is with her is to avail himself of a green card, which angers her and results in her breaking up with him. At work, Robert confronts Sam about his theft, which leads to Sam’s firing. Later, the Department of Immigration raids the restaurant, and Robert narrowly avoids capture by hiding in the walk-in freezer. After this incident, Robert returns to work. With his plight still undetermined, he observes the couple he admires as the young white man proposes to his girlfriend.
The film was shot at Flushing Meadows Park and at Rego Park, Queens over a period of 24 days.[1][2] The restaurant in the film is owned by the real-life parents of the film’s director, Tony Chan.[1] The young Hong Kong-born producer spent a year editing the footage in the kitchen of his family's Long Island home.[1]
Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote "Few films explore so thoroughly the role of cultural identity in creating unconscious racism--and with such a subtle, light touch."[3] David Mills of The Washington Post commended director Tony Chan for breaking through the monolithic view white people so often have of Chinese people.[4]
TV Guide voiced a similar sentiment, stating, "Chan's film confronts racial stereotyping by telling the stories of those too often excluded from the table of mass culture”,[1] adding, "Combination Platter presents some New York neighborhoods rarely shown in films or on TV and Chan utilizes his limited locations with aplomb."[1]
Praise was also given to the film’s actors. Mills of The Post wrote, "As portrayed by stockbroker and amateur actor Jeff Lau, Robert is decent and earnest and instantly likable. Even so, by the movie's climax -- a raid by immigration officials -- it may surprise you to realize how much you care about him."[4] Mills added, "Chan surrounds Robert with an interesting mix of characters...street-smart buddy Andy, who is helping him find a wife, seems especially hip when he's speaking in New Yawk-inflected English. Lester 'Chit-Man' Chan brings scowling authenticity to the part of Sam, the grumpy waiter who likes to insult his American customers in Chinese, right in front of their faces."[4][1]Emanuel Levy of Variety also gave a positive review, commenting, "Though serious, the film is not devoid of comic touches or even action."[2]
In addition, the film was praised for its multi-layered depiction of various cultural divides within the Chinese community, such as those “between immigrants and "ABCs" (American-born Chinese), [and] those who speak Cantonese and those who speak Mandarin.”[4] Kevin Thomas also acknowledged these barriers, while pointing out “the owner's...American-born niece Jennie (Ellen Synn), the restaurant's cashier…knows neither [the Cantonese or Mandarin dialect]--and eats Chinese food with a fork instead of chopsticks."[3] Thomas wrote, "Jennie's unfamiliarity with her ancestral language puts her in a situation similar to that of the restaurant's only white employee (Colin Mitchell), who's razzed by his friends for working in a Chinese restaurant in the first place."[3]
^ abcThomas, Kevin (February 16, 1994). "MOVIE REVIEW : A Bittersweet 'Combination Platter'". Los Angeles Times. from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
^ abcdMills, David (January 21, 1994). "'Combination Platter'". The Washington Post. from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
^Dudek, Duane (December 30, 1994). "1994 was a year of slim pickings". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 3.
^"Sundance Film Festival 1993". history.sundance.org. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
^Fox, David J. (January 14, 1994). . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
combination, platter, 1993, drama, film, directed, tony, chan, starring, jeffrey, colleen, brien, chit, chan, chan, directorial, debut, from, screenplay, wrote, with, edwin, baker, directed, bytony, chanscreenplay, byedwin, baker, tony, chanproduced, bytony, c. Combination Platter is a 1993 drama film directed by Tony Chan starring Jeffrey Lau Colleen O Brien and Chit Man Chan It is Chan s directorial debut from a screenplay he co wrote with Edwin Baker Combination PlatterDirected byTony ChanScreenplay byEdwin Baker Tony ChanProduced byTony Chan Mark Fuk Chan Jenny Lee Judy Moy Ulla ZwickerStarringJeffrey Lau Colleen O Brien Chit Man Chan Colin Mitchell Kenneth Lu Thomas K Hsiung Ellen SynnProductioncompanyBluehorse FilmsRunning time84 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 250 000 1 The film centers on Robert a young Chinese undocumented immigrant living in Flushing Queens and his attempt to gain legal status as a U S citizen through a marriage of convenience It premiered at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival where it was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize for Chan and won a Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for Chan and Baker Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Critical reception 5 Year end lists 6 Awards and nominations 7 References 8 External linksPlot EditThe film details the difficulties faced by Robert young undocumented immigrant who works at a low paying job in a Sichuan restaurant in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing Seeking to obtain U S citizenship Robert is told that a possible solution is to marry an American woman Though he is initially hesitant towards the idea he resolves to find someone who will marry him for a green card In the meantime Robert sends money to his parents back home in Hong Kong along with letters which falsely portray a positive portrait of his life in America One of Robert s fellow waiters Sam is in major debt which prompts him to pocket communal tips A pair of regular customers at the restaurant a young white man and his Asian American girlfriend make an impression on Robert Robert s sympathetic boss Mr Lee thinks business is too slow to create tax penalties for sponsoring Robert and if he were to do so it would take Robert about five years to get his green card Robert also lets his street smart friend Andy set him up with a shy white woman named Claire However Robert comes to realize he and Claire have hardly anything in common with each other He ends up confessing to her that the real reason he is with her is to avail himself of a green card which angers her and results in her breaking up with him At work Robert confronts Sam about his theft which leads to Sam s firing Later the Department of Immigration raids the restaurant and Robert narrowly avoids capture by hiding in the walk in freezer After this incident Robert returns to work With his plight still undetermined he observes the couple he admires as the young white man proposes to his girlfriend Cast EditJeffrey Lau as Robert Colleen O Brien as Claire Chit Man Chan as Sam Colin Mitchell as Benny Kenneth Lau as Andy Thomas K Hsiung as Mr Lee Ellen Synn as Jennie Nathaniel Geng as Glasshead Jia Fu Liu as Dishwasher Peter Kwong as Stanley Eleonora Kihlberg as Noriko James Dumont as JamesProduction EditThe film was shot at Flushing Meadows Park and at Rego Park Queens over a period of 24 days 1 2 The restaurant in the film is owned by the real life parents of the film s director Tony Chan 1 The young Hong Kong born producer spent a year editing the footage in the kitchen of his family s Long Island home 1 Critical reception EditProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingTV Guide 1 Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote Few films explore so thoroughly the role of cultural identity in creating unconscious racism and with such a subtle light touch 3 David Mills of The Washington Post commended director Tony Chan for breaking through the monolithic view white people so often have of Chinese people 4 TV Guide voiced a similar sentiment stating Chan s film confronts racial stereotyping by telling the stories of those too often excluded from the table of mass culture 1 adding Combination Platter presents some New York neighborhoods rarely shown in films or on TV and Chan utilizes his limited locations with aplomb 1 Praise was also given to the film s actors Mills of The Post wrote As portrayed by stockbroker and amateur actor Jeff Lau Robert is decent and earnest and instantly likable Even so by the movie s climax a raid by immigration officials it may surprise you to realize how much you care about him 4 Mills added Chan surrounds Robert with an interesting mix of characters street smart buddy Andy who is helping him find a wife seems especially hip when he s speaking in New Yawk inflected English Lester Chit Man Chan brings scowling authenticity to the part of Sam the grumpy waiter who likes to insult his American customers in Chinese right in front of their faces 4 1 Emanuel Levy of Variety also gave a positive review commenting Though serious the film is not devoid of comic touches or even action 2 In addition the film was praised for its multi layered depiction of various cultural divides within the Chinese community such as those between immigrants and ABCs American born Chinese and those who speak Cantonese and those who speak Mandarin 4 Kevin Thomas also acknowledged these barriers while pointing out the owner s American born niece Jennie Ellen Synn the restaurant s cashier knows neither the Cantonese or Mandarin dialect and eats Chinese food with a fork instead of chopsticks 3 Thomas wrote Jennie s unfamiliarity with her ancestral language puts her in a situation similar to that of the restaurant s only white employee Colin Mitchell who s razzed by his friends for working in a Chinese restaurant in the first place 3 Year end lists EditHonorable mention Duane Dudek Milwaukee Sentinel 5 Awards and nominations EditYear Category Recipient Result Ref 1993 Sundance Film Festival Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award Tony Chan and Edwin Baker Won 6 Grand Jury Prize dramatic Tony Chan Nominated9th Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature Tony Chan and Judy Moy producer Nominated 7 Best Screenplay Edwin Baker and Tony Chan NominatedReferences Edit a b c d e f g h Combination Platter reviews TV Guide Archived from the original on April 12 2022 Retrieved January 21 2016 a b Levy Emanuel February 9 1993 Combination Platter Variety Retrieved April 12 2022 a b c Thomas Kevin February 16 1994 MOVIE REVIEW A Bittersweet Combination Platter Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on April 8 2022 Retrieved January 20 2016 a b c d Mills David January 21 1994 Combination Platter The Washington Post Archived from the original on January 11 2017 Retrieved April 12 2022 Dudek Duane December 30 1994 1994 was a year of slim pickings Milwaukee Sentinel p 3 Sundance Film Festival 1993 history sundance org Retrieved September 27 2022 Fox David J January 14 1994 Banquet Ruby Lead 93 Spirit Nominees Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on September 28 2015 Retrieved April 12 2022 External links EditCombination Platter at IMDb Combination Platter at AllMovie Combination Platter at TCM Movies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Combination Platter amp oldid 1150625034, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
