Why did hundreds of American influencers recommend the movie Sight after its official release?
Date: May 19, 2024: Sight Film Screening Event at AMC Theater in New York
On May 19 and 20, 2023, over 200 Asian Americans and overseas Chinese, who share the same roots with Dr. Ming Wang, initiated the first screening of SIGHT in New York. The film was projected from Dr. Wang's laptop, with the first screening held at the newly renovated Flushing Municipal Center and the second at the GM Building, a New York landmark, organized by the Peking University Alumni Association.
A year has passed. Today, on May 19, 2024, many SIGHT fans and I are busy preparing for the grand celebration of the first screening of SIGHT at AMC's flagship theater in Times Square next Friday, May 24. A friend and I secured all 500 tickets for the Times Square AMC screenings in just five minutes, booking four sessions, each accommodating 120 people. Another friend immediately donated 500 Blue Ray glasses, which protect the eyes from screen radiation. The Flushing Asian Volunteer Team will distribute a pair to each attendee, aligning with the film’s message about eye protection advocated by ophthalmologist Dr. Ming Wang. The Spanish front desk manager and staff at AMC are also very supportive, preparing fresh popcorn in advance. The Chinese-American CEO Club sponsored the popcorn, so attendees can enjoy it along with soda while watching the film. Nearly 100 influencers from different countries, with various skin tones and accents, will be present, live-reporting their impressions of the film across the five screening rooms.
This film is highly anticipated.
From May 19, 2023, to May 19, 2024, the national tour of SIGHT has not just been a journey of one person's hope and perseverance but a "national journey" driven by willpower and faith in God. The main storyline, centered on restoring sight to blind patients, brings forth countless poignant, inspiring, and touching stories of immigrants taking root in America.
SIGHT is a serious film, a deeply moving movie that perfectly combines tears and laughter with profound humanity and ultimate triumph! The Joy Luck Club moved the world with its portrayal of the horrors of war and the resilient struggle for survival. Thirty years later, SIGHT has accomplished something equally remarkable: it moves us with a new story and setting, showcasing the same powerful sacrifice and indomitable human spirit.
As Chinese Americans who have lived in the U.S. for decades, our voices must be heard. We may never replicate Dr. Wang’s story and his unique success—the dual PhDs from MIT and Harvard, the medical innovations in treating blindness (such as the free donation of amniotic membrane technology). Although we cannot become Dr. Ming Wang, the protagonist of this film, our journey of leaving our motherland to embrace a new country, studying and surviving in solitude, and creating a brand-new life is equally significant. As a community, the sacrifices and contributions we have made are just as poignant.
For the past 40 years, as China opened its doors, millions of people pursued opportunities and a better life, shedding tears and striving for recognition. These stories represent an unprecedented reservoir of narratives for Hollywood.
Our stories must be told and heard!
With over 70 million overseas Chinese, our roots are connected, and this collective strength is what supports SIGHT! We must support SIGHT because the world needs to hear our stories. Our stories are not just history; they are ongoing events, vibrant and alive every day.
In our 40 years in America, we have created a new, blended culture that fosters mutual understanding. Admittedly, for millions of Chinese living in the U.S., being an ophthalmologist might not be a high-paying career we can all aspire to, but many of our compatriots have found their place in the numerous Chinese restaurants across the country. Didn't Dr. Wang meet his soulmate in a Chinese restaurant? As the saying goes, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but it was this restaurant employee who saw and later healed Dr. Wang's mental and emotional scars, a mental scar that no one else could see. Our past determines who we are, but we must let go of our past to become new, complete individuals without scars.
