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Who Killed Vincent Chin?

Play trailer Who Killed Vincent Chin? 1988 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Vincent Chin, a successful engineer living out his dream of designing automobiles in Detroit, meets an unexpected and violent end when he is assaulted and killed by two men in the summer of 1982, following an altercation at a bar. Despite their bloody crime, the assailants initially receive lenient sentences due to a plea bargain. The troubling outcome of the case outrages civil rights advocates, who fight for justice and struggle to prove that Chin's attackers had racist motivations.

Critics Reviews

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Joe George The Progressive 07/20/2024
4/5
[B]y asking the question posed in the title of their Academy Award-nominated film, directors Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Peña move beyond the actions and motivations of a few men and explore the conditions that led to Chin’s murder. Go to Full Review Glenn Dunks The Film Experience 05/04/2023
The film rightly has a place in history as a vitally important record of a terrible hate crime (one of sadly many) and as an American film directed by two Asian women (the first, surely). It’s also sadly relevant to this day [2023]... Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 12/13/2022
The crime was widely acknowledged as an expression of anti-Asian sentiment then rampant in Detroit at the time, as Japanese imports were blamed for the auto industry’s layoffs… never mind that Chin was Chinese. Go to Full Review Chris Barsanti PopMatters 06/17/2022
8/10
Economic anxiety and racial demagoguery make a toxic brew. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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david f 07/03/2022 This is a riveting and important documentary about a bar fight that turned into a beating death with a strong anti-Asian racial component in a city where the auto industry was struggling against Asian competitors and a justice system that just completely did not render justice whatsoever. The filmmakers were able to talk to so many people who were directly involved that they were able to create an incredible documentary full of insight and detail. See more 01/28/2017 An essential documentary that follows the unbelievable miscarriage of justice of the murder of Vincent Chin. The story of two white men beating the life of Vincent Chin an Asian-American with a Baseball Bat. The outcry lead by Mrs. Chin (Vincent's Mother) pushed for the case to fall under a Civil Rights claim. Although made on a tight budget the Doco lacks technical flair. As one would imagine the outcome wasn't favorable for the Chin Family. A 1987 Oscar Nominated Documentary that still holds impact. See more 10/05/2012 An imperfect, but important film. See more 10/30/2009 A small film about a murder that may continue to haunt you. See more 10/10/2008 This documentary is effective. It informed me about the Chin murder, and made me angry that our judicial system failed the Chin family. See more 07/01/2008 as documentaries go, its middle of the road. subject matter, however, is very interesting. this is the american judicial system at perhaps one of its most flawed moments (of which there are many). and the fact that ron ebens is completely cavalier about his actions and continually calls it an "accident" that he beat vincent chin in the head with a baseball bat while he was laying on the ground that inflicted wounds that would cause him to die a few days later. its difficult to watch any of the shots with chins mother in them. if you want to go on living your life having complete and blind faith in our system of justice i would have to recommend that you steer clear of this one. See more Read all reviews
Who Killed Vincent Chin?

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Cast & Crew

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Christine Choy

Director

Renee Tajima-Pena

Director

Juanita Anderson

Executive Producer

Christine Choy

Producer

Renee Tajima-Pena

Producer

Kyle Kibbe

Cinematographer

Movie Info

Synopsis Vincent Chin, a successful engineer living out his dream of designing automobiles in Detroit, meets an unexpected and violent end when he is assaulted and killed by two men in the summer of 1982, following an altercation at a bar. Despite their bloody crime, the assailants initially receive lenient sentences due to a plea bargain. The troubling outcome of the case outrages civil rights advocates, who fight for justice and struggle to prove that Chin's attackers had racist motivations.
Director
Christine Choy, Renee Tajima-Pena
Producer
Christine Choy, Renee Tajima-Pena
Production Co
Film News Now Foundation
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 27m