The Joy Luck Club (1993)

Directed by: Wayne Wang
Runtime: 139 minutes | Rated: R
Cast: Tamlyn Tomita, Kieu Chinh, Tsai Chin, France Nuyen, Lisa Lu

Based on Amy Tan’s bestselling novel, The Joy Luck Club unfolds the stories of four Chinese American women and their immigrant mothers, weaving together memory and generational experience to reveal the challenges of identity, love, sacrifice, and belonging. Directed by Wayne Wang, the film was groundbreaking as one of the first major Hollywood productions to center Asian American lives and feature a predominantly Asian cast. More than thirty years later, it continues to resonate as a touchstone for Asian American representation in cinema.

Earlier this year, MOCA proudly presented a screening of Wayne Wang’s Chan Is Missing (1982), widely considered the first Asian American feature film to gain national recognition. With this special screening of The Joy Luck Club, MOCA continues its commitment to preserving and advocating for the legacy of Asian American cinema, offering audiences an opportunity to revisit and reflect on this landmark work.

Following the screening, Janet Yang—one of the film’s executive producers and a trailblazing figure in the industry—will join us for a post-screening conversation about the making of the film and its enduring impact on Hollywood and Asian American storytelling.

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