Go Back To China

By: Michael Sun Lee

Spoiled and rich Sasha Li (Anna Akana) is a year out of fashion design school with no job and living off of her trust fund.  Her father Teddy (Richard Ng) cuts her off from all her money and forces her to go to China to help him and her half-sister Carol (Lynn Chen) in the family’s toy manufacturing business.

All Sasha wants to do at this point is fulfill her one-year agreement with her father in order to get her trust fund back so she can continue to live her spoiled life in Los Angeles. Like a fish out of water, Sasha must learn to adapt in this foreign country, culture and job.

While living in her father’s mansion, Sasha learns of her absentee father’s past infidelity, current mistress and third family.  Her accepting half-sister Carol has already been working as their father’s right-hand man at the toy factory for the last ten years. Sasha is told that she must start at the bottom in the company.  Her father runs the company with a corporate fist, but Sasha quickly finds a way to use her design education to offer an important contribution in the family business.

Outside of the business Sasha gets better acquainted with Carol and her father and learns more about their family dynamic while getting a new perspective on their human condition and sacrifices.  Sasha, herself, reveals her own humanity and understanding as she implements some ideas to improve the factory workers’ conditions and productivity.  But something happens that hurts the wellbeing of the company and the already strained family dynamic.  And it tests their relationship to each other and forces them to find change in their lives.

I had no expectations going into this movie and I was surprised to find that this comedy made me laugh out loud. The characters are likeable, flawed and well meaning.  The clean writing and direction by Emily Ting provide a simple and delightful story.  Her assemblage of characters was perfect with Kelly Hu as Sasha’s mother completing the lead cast.

The story, direction and performances left me with a good feeling.  I hope many people get the chance to see it.