Film SIGHT: The "Ice-Breaking Journey" of First-Generation Chinese Americans Reflections on Oscar Committee Interview with the SIGHT Creators and Dr. Mingxu Wang.
An "ice-breaking journey" typically refers to the navigation or expedition undertaken by a vessel breaking through ice to reach its destination, often associated with polar explorations. These journeys are essential for scientific research and tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, where harsh climates and extensive ice cover pose significant challenges to navigation. For those of us who, after the Cultural Revolution, became the first cohort to enter Chinese universities through that fateful college entrance exam, and then were fortunate enough to come to the United States for further studies, these past 40 years have felt like a polar expedition. Arriving in the US with only a few dozen dollars and achieving our goals, it's no wonder that the Hollywood Oscar committee held a special screening of the film SIGHT, followed by an exclusive interview with its creators and Dr. Mingxu Wang, the real-life inspiration behind the film. This interview is available on the Oscars website, and watching it will surely leave you both moved and thoughtful.
Dr. Mingxu Wang's journey is nothing short of extraordinary: a Chinese student who earned dual doctorates from MIT and Harvard, invented the amniotic membrane laser technology that restored sight to millions, and personally treated fifty thousand patients, offering this groundbreaking technology for free. How could Hollywood not be touched by his story? How could the Oscars committee not be excited? When asked why he chose Greg Kinnear (Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated star of "As Good as It Gets") for a role in SIGHT, Dr. Wang's response was straightforward and sincere: "I've seen all of Greg's films. He's always so serious and meticulous. I was impressed by his dedication. SIGHT needed him."
But the lead character in SIGHT isn't American, it's an Asian. Greg Kinnear playing a supporting role? Really? Canadian-born Hollywood actor Terry Chen, who plays Dr. Wang, has a deep appreciation for this casting choice: "SIGHT is a mainstream Hollywood film. Being selected to play the lead in such an important movie already surprised me! Being paired with an idol like Greg Kinnear moved me even more. During filming, Greg taught me a lot, even helping me with some lines." Terry also mentioned learning from Dr. Wang, particularly his calm demeanor that belied a deep passion and determination. This inspired Terry, born and raised in Vancouver, to modify his accent to better portray Dr. Wang.
After watching the professional interviews and reviews by the Oscars experts, you would likely agree that SIGHT deserved awards for these three individuals: Terry, Greg, and Dr. Wang. Without their collaborative efforts and integration of spirits, how could we see such a vivid and real story on the big screen? Chinese, American, Canadian—like one family! If the protagonist of "The Pursuit of Happyness" saw SIGHT, he might also applaud Dr. Mingxu Wang's life journey and immense courage. After all, Dr. Wang is a real-life example of perseverance and success. As Terry put it: "Dr. Wang stood right next to me as I portrayed him. That—was incredibly challenging!"
Filmed during the pandemic in Canada, all the sets were constructed, with a strict 14-day quarantine observed. The casting professionals didn't cut any corners, meticulously selecting the actresses for Dr. Wang's childhood love "Lily" and his wife, a girl from Qingdao met in a bar. Both actresses were born in China and moved to Canada and the US as children, fluent in both Chinese and English, embodying the "second-generation Chinese American" spirit. Alongside these actresses were the Indian girl Kajal, blinded by her stepmother, Maria from the Lithuanian orphanage, and the currently popular American actor Ben Wang (from "American Born Chinese"). The audience is treated to a star-studded Hollywood film rich in Chinese elements.
SIGHT premiered during the Memorial Day weekend on May 24th. Nearly a month later, SIGHT has defied some friends' concerns about it being a "one-day wonder" in theaters. The film continues to show in AMC theaters and started broadcasting on major national media. Although SIGHT hasn't broken box office records, over a million people have seen it. Given the current delicate state of US-China relations, the fact that 90% of the ticket sales came from American viewers is itself a miracle! On May 25th, the day after SIGHT's public release, Dr. Wang and the creators lined up on the Oscars award stage for a special interview by the Oscars committee, signaling their support for the film. Unlike interviews by major media like The New York Times, Fox News, The Hollywood Reporter, and Entertainment Tonight, the audience could hear and see Dr. Wang's emotional narration, fluent English without an accent, and his gentle, humble demeanor. Watching the film industry professionals applaud his success after the screening, the prolonged applause for SIGHT was heartfelt.
Dr. Wang often says: It's not difficult to enter the American mainstream or even become part of the top 1%, and he has achieved it. Among his patients are many Hollywood stars, including Nicole Kidman. It was through one of Dr. Wang's patients, America's beloved country music queen Dolly Parton, that Greg Kinnear was moved to star in SIGHT. After hearing Dr. Wang play the erhu, Dolly invited him to accompany her on a song. When this song reached Greg, his participation in SIGHT became inevitable. Both Chinese and Americans value relationships and connections, but it depends on the people and the purpose. The world behind SIGHT is full of such miraculous connections—music, stories, and genuine human interactions.
In conclusion, SIGHT is not about a single individual's success in America or suffering in China—absolutely not! No matter how the mainstream media portrays it, those of us who, like Dr. Mingxu Wang, experienced the 60s and 70s know better. The world was full of tension everywhere back then. If you don't believe it, watch "Forrest Gump" or the newly released "The Biker Club," starring Austin Butler, last year's Golden Globe Best Actor winner. A group of disorganized thugs in "The Biker Club" is no different from the vandals in SIGHT. Bad people do bad things. In those days of rampant evil, how to stay clean and even find light was the challenge faced by young Mingxu Wang. Accepting these challenges eventually led him to discover the brilliance of humanity. While curing blindness and bringing light to patients, Dr. Wang also illuminated his own heart. The wounds of the heart are invisible to the naked eye, but the power that erupts from the heart is immeasurable. This reminds me of another remarkable friend—world-class banker Weijian Shan. Shan, also a Chinese student who came to the US in the early 80s, was offered professorships at MIT and Wharton after earning his PhD. Throughout his 30-plus years as a banker, he and his team created three Harvard case studies: acquiring and restructuring Korea’s largest bank - First National, restructuring Shenzhen Development Bank, and recently revitalizing the Wanda Group. Hollywood has repeatedly tried to turn these deals into films, but Shan remains noncommittal. For him, the decade spent working in the Gobi Desert, struggling to find food, is more precious—those fearless experiences shaped the world-class banker he became. Attributing such innate perseverance of Chinese people to a political system's differences is overly simplistic and irresponsible.
We are truly proud of this film!
As a Ph.D. in English and American literature, writing reviews is my duty. I deeply understand Dr. Mingxu Wang's mission and the hardships he endured. Like an icebreaker, he navigated through many obstacles but also found mentors and benefactors. The greatest hope for SIGHT is that through AMC's thousands of theaters, Chinese families in the US and Canada, and Americans who have formed inseparable bonds with China over the past 40 years, can see our shared journey.
Eighty years ago, Chinese and American people fought, sacrificed, and triumphed together on the Pacific battlefield. Over the past 40 years, thanks to China's reform and opening up, and the eager anticipation of our parents, we have come to the US to study, work, and integrate into the mainstream, becoming an elite group. We have a responsibility to ensure that our second-generation Chinese Americans do not forget their roots, no matter how delicate they may sometimes seem. The countless root hairs are the eternal nutrients of our strong lives!
The ice-breaking journey brings a mighty and majestic momentum!
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