Gritty social realist story of Chinese woman Lalu who is sold into slavery in the late 19th century, and taken to a rough mining town in the American west. There she faces a series of humiliations, rejections and triumphs before finding at least a degree of happiness with a sympathetic saloon keeper. By turns both gloomy and sentimental (not necessarily a bad thing) issues of racism and feminism are very much to the fore.
16 Reviews
the Old West from a different perspective
mjneu5922 December 2010
By 1990 pundits were dismissing the Western as a moribund genre, but here was more proof to the contrary: a thoughtful, intelligent frontier drama (from the book by Ruthanne Lum McCunn) about a reluctant young Chinese mail-order bride who learns how to overcome both racial and sexual discrimination after being sold into virtual slavery and shipped to a remote Idaho mining camp. The story offers a fresh look at familiar Far Western terrain from a unique and otherwise neglected Far Eastern perspective: through the eyes of Chinese immigrants who, as much as anyone, helped win the West. The heroine's rocky path to independence is softened somewhat by romantic interest from a sympathetic (and racially color blind) saloon owner, but even in love she never loses her dignity or identity. Likewise the film itself maintains its quiet feminist integrity, by successfully navigating the fine line between sensitivity and soap. Beautifully shot in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, with careful attention to authentic period mood and detail.
A Hidden Treasurer deserving of a broad audience.
tallmark222 December 2013
OK, I will admit upfront that I am biased about this movie. "Thousand Pieces of Gold" had its world premiere in my city in Idaho in 1991 because it was the only sizeable town with a large old movie palace near the locations where these true-life events took place (but NOT where they were filmed, which was in Montana). (Lewiston even gets a shout-out in the subtitles near the beginning of the film.) During the several weeks that this movie played, I went to see it MANY times on the BIG SCREEN; watching it on TV screens just does not do the scenery justice, though we will perhaps never see it again in theaters. The story of Polly Bemis that the movie is based on is real, though the filmmakers do take some liberties with the facts. That does not bother most of us locals. We were all thrilled to see this story brought to life on film by many fine actors, capturing the flavor of what life was like in 19th Century Idaho mining towns--especially if you were not white. Rosalind Chao's performance is exceptional, and I have been told that this was the FIRST American movie made with a Asian-American actress in the lead role. Although the film seems to come to a rather abrupt end -- as though the filmmakers ran out of money -- it is still a fantastic film that deserves more attention than it has received, and certainly should be released on DVD. Make a point to see it, or own it on VHS, if you can.
Amazing dramatic performances
goodbook_19796 November 1999
One of the few movies i've seen where sex is not the bottom line or basis of the romance. It is tasteful and sweet in its depiction of an interracial relationship which develops around an actual friendship and ensues into a genuine emotional bond in the midst of semi-racially intolerant environment. The lead actor and actress produce an amazing performance of a romantic chemistry that is set in the bounds of respect, selfnessness, kindness, and deep affection.
I give it a thumbs up, way, waaaaaaaaaaaaaay up.
I give it a thumbs up, way, waaaaaaaaaaaaaay up.
Thousand Pieces of Gold
CinemaSerf26 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Poverty and hunger in China in the late 19th century force a family to sell their young daughter. She "Lalu" (Rosalind Chao) is shipped to the USA where she ends up being bought by the landlord of a saloon who intends that she be an additional revenue source for him, and entertainment for his horny customers. She is determined not to become an whore, though, and so now her strength of character is throughly tested until the arrival of well-meaning Chris Cooper's "Bemis" who might just be able to offer her a way out with some dignity. It's a gloriously shot piece of cinema, this - and the love story bubbles along nicely in the latter part once we have established the characterisations. Cooper is adequate, I never found him to be anything more, really - and there is a thought-provoking narrative that shines a light on the habits of certain cultures of using children as little more than bartering chips (especially girls); and of using women as little more than toys as adults. That adds quite considerably to the potency of the theme, and Chao does a good job keeping us focussed on her struggles and defiance. It probably is not a film you will remember for long, but it is well worth a watch as a testimony to tougher times.
A Golden Piece of Drama
Prof_Lostiswitz7 August 2002
A gorgeous and very intelligent movie. Highly unusual to make a western from the Chinese point of view, also to make one from the woman's point of view.
These people do it without sentimentality; there's never a false note in it. Lalu has three strikes against her: an ethnic Mongol in China, a woman in a male culture, a Chinese in America. Yet she can draw on her warrior traditions forb a sense of pride inaccessible to most of her compatriots.
The relationships she gets into seem totally real; at the same time, there is no attempt to cover up the ugly reality of white racism (not that the Chinese men are much better than the Americans).
This is how the old west must have been, and this movie gives us an honest and dramatic portrayal. It deserves to be much better known.
These people do it without sentimentality; there's never a false note in it. Lalu has three strikes against her: an ethnic Mongol in China, a woman in a male culture, a Chinese in America. Yet she can draw on her warrior traditions forb a sense of pride inaccessible to most of her compatriots.
The relationships she gets into seem totally real; at the same time, there is no attempt to cover up the ugly reality of white racism (not that the Chinese men are much better than the Americans).
This is how the old west must have been, and this movie gives us an honest and dramatic portrayal. It deserves to be much better known.
Excellent family oriented movie
john-scaglione31 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Just watched this the other day on Hulu.Com and was very pleasantly surprised. Great acting, very meaningful dialog, a very touching story (supposedly based on a true account) that was extremely well told. Many people today would probably find it slow moving because of its lack of action, bloodshed, and sex. But i found it perfect. One can feel for the plight of poor Chinese striving to survive in remote regions and the harsh decisions that they had to make in order to do so. The story of the daughter of one of these families and her subsequent forced relocation to Oregon in the U.S. is both touching and heroic. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates the triumph of the human spirit in the face of hardship. Great performances from Chou and Cooper.
no likable characters
worleythom18 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
There are no likable characters in this movie.
Even the protagonist is mainly just a victim. She shows some tenacity, but we don't really get to know her enough to like her.
Shows that Chinese people were scapegoated, mistreated, excluded, robbed, murdered in the 1800s.
Shows a poor Chinese father selling his daughter into sex slavery.
Everyone the protagonist encounters mistreats her.
Not a fun movie. Its redeeming social value, if it has one, is in showing the fallout from racism and sexism.
Which is perhaps unnecessary. For a downer, any day's news will do.
A movie should at least have a likable character. This movie lacks one.
Even the protagonist is mainly just a victim. She shows some tenacity, but we don't really get to know her enough to like her.
Shows that Chinese people were scapegoated, mistreated, excluded, robbed, murdered in the 1800s.
Shows a poor Chinese father selling his daughter into sex slavery.
Everyone the protagonist encounters mistreats her.
Not a fun movie. Its redeeming social value, if it has one, is in showing the fallout from racism and sexism.
Which is perhaps unnecessary. For a downer, any day's news will do.
A movie should at least have a likable character. This movie lacks one.
There's danger when a movie is made of a true life figure
elgordo1513 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This touching movie is about what may be the best loved figure from Idaho history. Her ranch, now a members only recreational club, is just over 40 miles from where I'm writing this. The movie takes considerable license with the actual facts of Polly Bemis' life, but that is seldom the point of a fictionalized movie based on a novel that is based on a true story anyway. Much of this movie winks and nods at the history, but packages what there is of it into a very charming and moving portrayal of the difficulties of life for Chinese immigrants on the Idaho frontier, not on the cattle producing prairies, but in the gritty gold mines of Warren and Florence in the mountains of 19th century Central Idaho. The Chinese Exclusion Act caused much upheaval and misery among the Chinese immigrants as was depicted in the movie, in which the Bemises were caught up. (spoiler alert) Although the movie ends just as life is beginning on the Main Salmon River in Central Idaho, much of the charm of Polly Bemis' life that has made her such a beloved figure in Idaho history had yet to occur. That might be a good idea for another movie to follow up this one.
One of American Playhouse's finest
HallmarkMovieBuff12 April 2007
Although I haven't seen this since it was on TV over fifteen years ago, its memory came and struck me again tonight right out of the blue while I was eating dinner. I was so supremely impressed with this at the time I saw it on PBS that I have no trouble now remembering the title immediately, along with the names Rosalind Chao and Chris Cooper, even after all these years. So, I just had to come here now while I'm thinking of it and register my approval.
If this were available on DVD, I'd buy it today. But it seems to me that what America really needs, entertainment-wise, is an American Playhouse anthology on DVD. If The American Film Theatre can put out a fourteen-volume anthology (in three sets), and if we can get "Fifty Years of Janus Films" in one giant collection, why not American Playhouse?
If this were available on DVD, I'd buy it today. But it seems to me that what America really needs, entertainment-wise, is an American Playhouse anthology on DVD. If The American Film Theatre can put out a fourteen-volume anthology (in three sets), and if we can get "Fifty Years of Janus Films" in one giant collection, why not American Playhouse?
One of my favorite movies! Where can I find this in VHS or DVD?
juliearleen5 June 2006
This is a movie I have seen on TV twice - an inspiring movie about one woman's determination and industry. There is also a touching love story. But one of the most amazing parts of this very interesting film, is that it is based on a true story and, if I am not mistaken, shows a picture of the real heroine of the story at the end. This is an important story for women's "herstory". The acting is fantastic, and the story is compelling. My only real challenge with this movie, is that I decided I wanted to see it again and can not find it anywhere! But I will continue my search for this important historic film until I find it - I believe it is worth the effort :-)
The Harrowing life for 19 Century Chinese immigrants to the US. + Minor spoiler.
ewleeds21 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This film addresses the racial problems that blighted Western Societies some 150 years ago. meaning the exclusion and persecution of minorities by those groups who had the most men, followers, weapons, money and at times an active and aggressive mob mentality. This wonderful film deals with the early trials of the first Chinese settlers to the US and those who followed them and it illustrates several disgraceful real-life situations when seen from a Chinese person viewpoint. To keep production costs down it lacked the to be expected western film scenes containing the all too familiar cowboys and gangsters, fast gun play, cattle herds, busy farriers, a brutal but fair Sheriff, the local Army Fort, townsfolk including women and children, it lacked not having a gold mine or men panhandling for gold in the river scenes (it was alleged to be set in a mining town) but ignoring this it did contain an excellent film land education on slavery, misguided job protectionism, with accurate and well portrayed historical pointers about Chinese immigration to the US. The last time I saw a film similar to this was called Indo-China whose star was Catherine Deneuve. Praise be to all who worked on this wonderful production and great actors they were. Rosalind Chao was the star of this film and deserved an Oscar.
Outstanding Film.
David_Brown29 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
What is shown in the film is how much honor and self respect that Lalu/Polly has. Even when she was in China, she was at the bottom of the barrel, but she refused to accept her status in life, held her head high, and never gave up. She worked hard, learned how to do things better than anyone, and most important. learned and mastered how to get along with others, without compromising her values, so she would be able to deal with different kinds of people, on whatever basis was necessary. Spoilers Ahead: At the end of the movie, when the Klan-type of gang, were chasing all of the Chinese away, she was riding back in on a horse, and they chose not to bother her, and she stayed. Why was she treated differently by them? The film does not say, but I have a feeling a large part is the way she carried herself. She could not be bullied and intimidated, and although they did not care for her, by facing them head on without fear (As she did towards any obstacle in her path), she gained their respect. It is an outstanding Western, and from me it gets 10 Stars.
Chao and Cooper have chemistry to spare
dphelan-11 March 2007
I wish this fantastic film were available on DVD. I own the VHS and find it more compelling with each viewing. Rosalind Chao and Chris Cooper ( who later went on to win an Academy Award) give topnotch performances and make me believe in the power of love and redemption. Their slowly building relationship in a hostile world and its low-key but very powerful denouement is a textbook in fine acting.The historical period has been covered before but never from the point of view of a Chinese immigrant woman. Lalu's courage, strength and intelligence as well as her sensuous exotic beauty are inspirational. As Charlie, Cooper gives a fine portrayal of a decent if flawed man who triumphs in the end. A real classic!
The 1880s, Chinese girls are sold into prostitution in the USA.
TxMike27 April 2021
I came across this movie because it has Chris Cooper in it and was just released on DVD in 2020 in a 4K digital restoration. The picture and sound are superb especially when you consider it was filmed 30+ years ago. It was filmed in Montana.
It is based on real people and their mostly factual story. Drought and famine threaten everyone in Northern China and Mongolia in 1880. To survive the dad sells his daughter, presumably into marriage. She is sent by ship and arrives in California where she is again sold and transported to Oregon where many men went to prospect for gold. Presumably to work as a prostitute for the man who bought her even though by that time slavery had been made illegal.
The young lady was headstrong, she did not comply and eventually worked herself into a better position. The movie is of that story and is very well made.
My wife and I watched it on DVD from our public library.
It is based on real people and their mostly factual story. Drought and famine threaten everyone in Northern China and Mongolia in 1880. To survive the dad sells his daughter, presumably into marriage. She is sent by ship and arrives in California where she is again sold and transported to Oregon where many men went to prospect for gold. Presumably to work as a prostitute for the man who bought her even though by that time slavery had been made illegal.
The young lady was headstrong, she did not comply and eventually worked herself into a better position. The movie is of that story and is very well made.
My wife and I watched it on DVD from our public library.
Rather interesting, yet very sad
jgcorrea12 July 2022
Movie based on the life of Polly Bemis. Polly was sold by her father in China to bandits, and sold again to a brothel, and sold again to a woman that took her to the US to work in a saloon in the West. You learn a little about girls in China and then how Chinese were viewed/treated in the US in the 1871 timeframe.
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