The Slanted Screen

Watch The Slanted Screen

  • 2006
  • 1 hr
  • 7.2  (255)

The Slanted Screen from 2006 is a documentary film that explores the experiences of Asian American men in Hollywood over the past century. Directed by Jeff Adachi, the film features interviews with a variety of actors, producers, and directors, including Frank Chin, Daniel Dae Kim, and Bobby Lee. The film opens by discussing the long history of Asian characters in American cinema, beginning as far back as the silent film era. However, many of these early depictions were extremely racist and contributed to negative stereotypes of Asian men in particular. The documentary then moves forward through the years, exploring how these stereotypes persisted even as Asian Americans began to achieve more prominent roles in Hollywood.

One topic that The Slanted Screen tackles head-on is the phenomenon of the "perpetual foreigner." This stereotype suggests that Asian Americans are never fully assimilated into American culture, even if they are born and raised in the United States. As a result, many Asian actors were typecast in roles that emphasized their foreignness and made it difficult for them to break out of these limiting roles.

Despite these challenges, a few actors were able to make a name for themselves in Hollywood. The documentary features interviews with pioneers like Philip Ahn and Keye Luke, who managed to find success despite the racist climate of the time. The film also explores the careers of more recent stars like Daniel Dae Kim, who has appeared in high-profile television shows like Lost and Hawaii Five-0.

One of the most interesting aspects of The Slanted Screen is its examination of how Asian American masculinity has been portrayed over the years. Many Hollywood films have depicted Asian men as weak, effeminate, or villainous. This has had a damaging effect on the self-image of Asian men and has contributed to a culture of emasculation. The film argues that films like The Joy Luck Club and Better Luck Tomorrow were groundbreaking because they depicted Asian men as complex, fully realized characters.

The documentary also spends some time talking about the impact that Asian Americans have had behind the scenes in Hollywood. Many of the producers, directors, and writers who have helped to shape the industry have been Asian, and The Slanted Screen argues that this has had a major impact on the visibility of Asian American actors in recent years.

Overall, The Slanted Screen is a thoughtful and engaging documentary that sheds light on an important issue. By exploring the history of Asian American representation in Hollywood, the film forces viewers to confront their own biases and question how these stereotypes persist. Through a mix of footage from classic films and interviews with some of the industry's most prominent Asian Americans, The Slanted Screen offers a nuanced and insightful look at the ways in which Hollywood has both hindered and fostered the careers of Asian actors over the course of a century.

The Slanted Screen is a 2006 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.

Description
Where to Watch The Slanted Screen
The Slanted Screen is available to watch free on Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download on demand at . Some platforms allow you to rent The Slanted Screen for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2006
  • Runtime
    1 hr
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.2  (255)
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