In the context of his mother’s poor health, Jackie Chan’s father decides to reveal the true story behind his family history; including lost siblings, violent Nationalism, opium smuggling and the fact that Chan isn’t their real family name. The film also covers Jackie’s upbringing in Hong Kong. Not just for Jackie Chan fans (although this film will convert you!), this is also a fascinating insight into modern Chinese history and family life.
Showing as part of the This Darling Life: Documentaries strand, exploring the wide range of documentaries made by women directors in Hong Kong.
Reviews
“Imagine you’re one of the best-known people on the planet and you suddenly discovered that, uh, your family name wasn’t what you’d been led to believe. It’s a problem Jackie Chan – or Jackie Fong, as he should really be called – handles with practiced ease in Traces of a Dragon, a moving documentary by Hong Kong helmer Mabel Cheung that gains resonance by encapsulating a chaotic era of the Chinese experience pre- and post-WWII.” Derek Elley, Variety
“An extraordinary 20th century rags to riches story” Mabel Cheung, Time Out