From silent cinema to multiple-language talkies, vaudeville to television, and Hollywood to Europe and beyond, Anna May Wong constantly reinvented herself. She learned new languages, trained for different media and curated an ‘authentic’ Chinese wardrobe – even when being routinely typecast in roles and narratives confined by racist and sexist stereotypes and taboos. Whether as cosmopolitan star, character actor or an extra adding to the so-called ‘Oriental atmosphere’, Wong continually refined her craft as a performer. She challenged established categories and offered new possibilities with her evocative gestures, subtle expressions and distinctive voice, all of which were informed by her rich, complex and boundary-defying life story. This season celebrates Wong’s trans-national life and career, as well as her collaborations with and inspiration for Asian diasporic communities.
¶Ù°ùÌýÌýhas curated the Anna May Wong season at the BFI. For more information, visit theÌý.
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