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The Search for General Tso
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Wikipedia article
'The Search for General Tso' is a documentary film that premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. It was directed by Ian Cheney and produced by Amanda Murray and Jennifer 8. Lee. Sundance Selects acquired it in December 2014, and was released January 2, 2015, in theaters and on demand.
Synopsis
The film begins by exploring theories about General Tso. The film then shifts focus to China, where few recognize the eponymous dish. The film then traces Tso's real-life history in the Qing Dynasty as well as the history of Chinese immigration to the United States. Interviewed are a number of notable figures in Chinese-American cuisine, such as Cecilia Chiang of The Mandarin, a world record-holder for restaurant menus and Chef Peng Chang-kuei, who claims to have invented the dish in Taiwan.
Development
Around 2004, Cheney and his best friend were driving across America when they stopped at a Chinese restaurant "with red booths and neon signs" and ordered General Tso's chicken. The experience prompted them to investigate the history of Chinese food in America.
In 2008, Lee wrote a book about the history of Chinese food in the United States and around the world, titled 'The Fortune Cookie Chronicles', documenting the process on her blog. She reported the unlikely, but true, story of how a batch of fortune cookies created 110 Powerball lottery winners. To the surprise of many non-Chinese readers, she reported that fortune cookies are found in many countries but not China and that fortune cookies may have originated in Japan. Warner Books editor Jonathan Karp struck a deal with Lee to write a book about "how Chinese food is more all-American than apple pie".[http://www.womenofchina.cn/Profiles/Writers/206808.jsp "Jennifer 8. Lee Attracts Americans with Chinese Food"] , October 13, 2008. Source: Xinhua/Translated by womenofchina.cn She appeared on 'The Colbert Report' to promote the book.[http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=163297 "Jennifer 8. Lee on The Colbert Report on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008"] The book was #26 on 'The New York Times' Best Seller list.[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/books/bestseller/0330besthardnonfiction.html "Best Sellers, Hardcover Nonfiction, March 30, 2008"]
The book research is the basis of Lee's documentary collaboration with Cheney. In addition to premiering at Tribeca, the film played at the Seattle International Film Festival AFI Docs, and the Independent Film Festival of Boston.
Critical reception
Film reviews were generally positive, with critics finding the premise amusing and the conclusion thought-provoking. Scott Foundas of 'Variety' called it "a finger-lickin' good foodie docu" and John DeFore of 'The Hollywood Reporter' predicted, "Festival auds should eat it up."
References
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