We are a Family
We are a Family
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One-Hour HD Documentary (2020)
A trip to China for a bi-cultural family living in San Carlos, California brings a new awareness and appreciation for their cross-cultural ties. In 2001, Jane arrived in America from China to pursue her professional dance career with the Chinese Cultural Dance Company in San Francisco. Soon after she met her husband Rick, a division manager with a Tree Company in San Jose. They and their 11 year old Chinese American daughter Michelle travel to China to experience the shared values, customs, cuisine and family ties that bring them closer as a family. The creative aspect of dance and the metaphor Rick uses to describe the structure of family is amplified through their journey as each experience brings them closer to their ties abroad. In the end it becomes clear that their trip to China was more of a homecoming rather than just a visit to a foreign country. Their experience was like a well rooted tree. Solid and strong. A foundation between two cultures like no other. |
- City view of Shanghai
- Family viewing Shanghai’s cityscape
- Family enjoying Shanghainese cuisine
- Michelle learning ballet from a Shanghai dance school
- Ballet teacher correcting Michelle’s dance move
- Michelle learning Kung Fu
- Michelle learning Kung Fu
- Michelle performing sword Kung Fu
- Family having dinner at Hai by Goga restaurant
- Family chatting with chef Brad
- Family shopping at Tianzifang
- Interviewing 3 owners of Baopal
- Family chatting with owners of Baopal
- Aerial view of Xinchang Ancient Town
- The river at Xinchang Ancient Town
- Family shopping at Xinchang Ancient Town
- Family speaking with American businessman Scott Williams
- Family speaking with American Professors Ed and Dennis at Shanghai International Studies University
- Family chatting with American Professor Scott
- Family attending Professor Ed’s class
- Shanghai city view
- Changsha city view
- Aerial view of Changsha
- Family watching the chef cook
- Michelle watching the chef prepare food
- Family enjoying traditional Hunan cuisine
- Michelle chatting with girls in a dance school
- Teacher correcting Michelle’s dance move
- Michelle dancing with the other girls
- Michelle learning a dance move from the teacher
- Family visiting a high school classroom in Changsha
- High school teachers Andrew and Man
- Filming at Michelle’s uncle’s Pilates studio
- Michelle’s uncle teaching her Pilates
- Family sitting with Michelle’s grandparents
- Michelle singing a Chinese song with her grandpa playing Erhu
- Michelle and father picking Asian cucumbers
- Michelle with her parents and grandparents holding freshly picked vegetables
- Film crew
Not all air dates and times are listed here.
Check your local listings for current schedules.
To request We are a Family contact the TV Programmer at your local PBS station.
DVDs are currently not available.
Description
One-Hour HD Documentary (2020)
A trip to China for a bi-cultural family living in San Carlos, California brings a new awareness and appreciation for their cross-cultural ties.
In 2001, Jane arrived in America from China to pursue her professional dance career with the Chinese Cultural Dance Company in San Francisco. Soon after she met her husband Rick, a division manager with a Tree Company in San Jose. They and their 11 year old Chinese American daughter Michelle travel to China to experience the shared values, customs, cuisine and family ties that bring them closer as a family.
The creative aspect of dance and the metaphor Rick uses to describe the structure of family is amplified through their journey as each experience brings them closer to their ties abroad.
In the end it becomes clear that their trip to China was more of a homecoming rather than just a visit to a foreign country. Their experience was like a well rooted tree. Solid and strong. A foundation between two cultures like no other.
Gallery
- First day of orientation at Huangshan city
- Filming Tunxi Ancient Street
- Wonton maker Mr. Wang Yitiao
- Students watching Mr. Wang making wonton
- Wyatt tasting a wonton
- An ink stone carving master at work
- Ink stone carving
- Lacquer artist Gan Erke showing his work
- Lacquer art
- Wugongling tea terraces
- Wugongling tea terraces
- Students at Wugongling
- Students watching a Hui Opera actor applying make up
- A Hui opera actor applying make up
- A Hui Opera performance
- Angela learning Hui Opera moves
- Aerial view of Hongcun Village
- Students at Hongcun Village
- Hongcun Village
- Hongcun Village’s South Lake
- A handmade compass
- An artist making a compass
- A meteorite at the compass museum
- Compass maker Mr. Wu
- Coffee shop owner Elisabeth
- Students at the tea house
- Tea house owner Ms. Liu
- Chengkan Village
- Maddy taking pictures at Chengkan Village
- Students at Chengkan Village
- Graham getting his fortune told
- Students wearing traditional Chinese gowns
- A Hui style woodcarving
- Students learning bamboo carving
- Brian and Angela learning how to carve bamboo
- A bamboo carved art piece
- Aerial view of the Flower Fishing Village
- Bonsai trees at the Flower Fishing Village
- Filming Xinan River
- Erni, Wyatt, Colin and Jared with the boat captain on Xinan River
- Graham, Joe, Colin and Jared having a great time on Xinan River
- Visiting Chinese medicine master Li Jiren
- Master Li Jiren and Li Yan with students
- Graham examined by Master Li Jiren
- Aerial view of Fuxia Village
- Watching kids performing Hui Opera
- Kids performing Hui Opera
- Leila, Angela, Joe and Wyatt learning Hui Opera
- Leila and Sean making Chinese pancakes for lunch
- Making ink sticks
- Ink sticks
- Angela using an ink stick to write Chinese calligraphy
- Graham writing Chinese calligraphy
- Ley and Jared filming Wang Yitiao making wonton
- Summer, Ley, Jared, Jack, and Sean on location
- Joe, Wyatt and Dani on location
- Wyatt filming compass maker Mr. Wu
- Brian, Erni, Graham and Colin on location
- Erni, Graham, Brian and Colin filming at Fuxia Village
- Jared, Linhdan, Maddy and Leila filming at the teahouse
- Maddy, Jared, Linhdan and Georami filming at the teahouse
- Yellow Mountain scenery
- Yellow Mountain scenery
- Student group picture
TV Airing Schedule
Not all air dates and times are listed here.
Check your local listings for current schedules.
To request We are a Family contact the TV Programmer at your local PBS station.
ALASKA | |||
KUACDT | Fairbanks, AK | 9/1/2020 9/2/2020 |
8:00 pm 2:00 am |
MISSOURI | |||
KCPTDT2 | Kansas City, MO | 9/27/2020 | 8:00 pm |
Purchase DVD
DVDs are currently not available.