| Description |
1 videodisc (63 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. |
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digital optical stereo Dolby rda |
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video file DVD video all regions rda |
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Documentary. |
| System Details |
DVD; region 1. |
| Language |
Closed-captioned in English and Chinese with English subtitles. English SDH captions. |
| Performer |
Featuring Tom Xia. |
| Credits |
Cinematographer & co-producer, Michael Dwyer ; co-producer & editor, Juli Vizza ; co-editor, Tova Goodman ; associate producer, Katie Roper ; music written & performed by Kenneth Pattengale. |
| Note |
Originally produced in 2013. |
| Audience |
Rating: Unrated. |
| Contents |
Bad news about China -- Tom challenges neighbors -- Tom's introduction -- The Jones family accepts challenge -- Removing everything "Made in China" -- Western culture and the Xia family -- Cookie party at the Joneses -- American citizenship -- Joneses make Xmas lights without China -- The Xias plan for Xmas -- Xmas shopping -- Tom plays poker with friends -- Jones Xmas song -- Tom's apology -- PRC 60th Anniversary celebration -- Xmas preparations -- Tom attends church with Evelyn -- Tim and the XBox -- Tom calls grandpa -- Acupuncture -- Xmas Eve -- Xmas Day -- Conclusion. |
| Summary |
Exploring the intersection of consumerism and immigration in American culture, XMAS WITHOUT CHINA is an intimate portrait of families wrestling with our drive to consume cheap products, but also with our desire for human connection and a sense of who we are in a fast-changing world. Pride and mischief inspire Chinese immigrant Tom Xia to challenge the Americans in his Southern California suburb to celebrate Christmas without any Chinese products. With deep ties to his extended family back home, Tom is incensed by how he considers China is misunderstood, particularly by the American media. But he gets more than he bargains for when he meets the Joneses, a young family trying to keep their children safe as a wave of Chinese toy recalls forces them to have their son tested for lead poisoning. The Joneses start to give up not just toys, plates, lamps, and clothes, but the beloved hair dryer, coffeemaker, X-Box, and many Christmas decorations, challenging the way they live everyday life and how they celebrate Christmas. Meanwhile, Tom's parents are constructing a new home, proudly using Chinese materials to build their American dream. As they decorate for Christmas for the first time and the interactions between the Xias and the Joneses intensify, Tom realizes that he's on a deeper journey to understand the complexities of his own divided loyalties between America and China. |
| Subject |
Consumers -- Attitudes -- Videodiscs.
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Exports -- China -- Videodiscs.
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Globalization -- Social aspects -- Videodiscs.
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Globalization -- Economic aspects -- Videodiscs.
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Emigration and immigration -- Social aspects -- Videodiscs.
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Chinese Americans -- California -- Arcadia -- Videodiscs.
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Christmas -- California -- Arcadia -- Videodiscs.
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Arcadia (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- Videodiscs.
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DVD-Video discs.
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| Genre |
Documentary films.
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Nonfiction films.
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Feature films.
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Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
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| Added Author |
Dwyer, Alicia, film director, film producer.
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Xia, Tom, film producer.
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Vizza, Juli, film producer, editor of moving image work.
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Pattengale, Kenneth, composer.
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Dwyers & Xia (Firm), production company.
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Independent Television Service, production company.
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Center for Asian American Media, production company.
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Chicken & Egg Pictures (Firm), production company.
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Veracity Productions (Firm), production company.
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Bullfrog Films, presenter.
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| ISBN |
1937772993 |
| Standard No. |
193777299323 |
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