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Eat a Bowl of Tea

Play trailer Poster for Eat a Bowl of Tea PG-13 1989 1h 44m Romance Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Just prior to the end of World War II, a law responsible for halting Chinese immigration to the United States is lifted. Ben Loy, a Chinese-American who has just returned from his tour of duty with the U.S. Army, is encouraged by his relatives to make the most of this situation by visiting China and returning to the United States with a new bride. He eventually finds a spouse, Mei Oi (Cora Miao), but she has problems adjusting to American life, while Ben contends with his overbearing family.
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Eat a Bowl of Tea

Critics Reviews

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Candace Wiggins Southern Voice (Atlanta) 05/08/2023
4/4
A wonderful new film by Wayne Wang. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/17/2009
B
Though not as witty as Chan Is Missing and not as touching as Dim Sum, Wayne Wang's Eat Bowl of Tea relates a little known story of the Chinese-American community, putting on screen characters seldom seen in mainstream American movies. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 12/28/2008
B-
Pleasant but unexciting ethnic comedy/romance set in NYC's Chinatown in 1949. Go to Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice 06/24/2003
Eat a Bowl of Tea explores the pressures put on two newlyweds in Chinatown to meet the expectations of their community. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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08/21/2011 the movie was weak like starbucks coffee, and laden with cliches. saving grace was the strong hong kong ensemble cast plus a young russell wong beautifying the screen. the cora miao character was whorish and irritating as hell. See more 04/08/2009 Russel Wong gave me goosebumps while watching this movie See more 04/04/2009 A bit slow, but was interesting to see a story from the eyes of Asian Americans in the 1940's, my parents' generation. Worth watching, but had expected more from this Wayne Wang movie. See more 11/14/2008 In general I wouldn't have called this a comedy. A simple story (and essentially an American one, despite the Chinese theme) with a rough middle and a happy end. See more 11/04/2008 seen this movie the other night on tv it wasn't that bad See more 11/03/2008 more realistic material from Wang See more Read all reviews
Eat a Bowl of Tea

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Cast & Crew

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Wayne Wang

Director

Cora Miao

Mei Oi

Russell Wong

Ben Loy

Victor Wong

Wah Gay

Sau-Kei Lee

Bok Fat

Eric Tsiang Chi Wai

Ah Song
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Eat a Bowl of Tea

Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989) Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989) Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Just prior to the end of World War II, a law responsible for halting Chinese immigration to the United States is lifted. Ben Loy, a Chinese-American who has just returned from his tour of duty with the U.S. Army, is encouraged by his relatives to make the most of this situation by visiting China and returning to the United States with a new bride. He eventually finds a spouse, Mei Oi (Cora Miao), but she has problems adjusting to American life, while Ben contends with his overbearing family.
Director
Wayne Wang
Producer
Tom Sternberg
Screenwriter
Judith Rascoe
Production Co
American Playhouse
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$95.2K
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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