SFA to screen ‘Eat a Bowl of Tea’ film in collaboration with Big Read initiative

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of the film “Eat a Bowl of Tea,” a Chinese-American romantic film directed by Wayne Wang based on the novel of the same name by Louis Chu, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 1, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

This month’s featured film is being presented in partnership with the Nacogdoches Public Library and Humanities Texas as they promote the annual National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read event, which is designed to broaden an understanding of the world, communities and oneself through a collectively read book. This year’s Big Rea book is Charles Yu’s novel, “Interior Chinatown,” which examines themes of race, pop culture, immigration, assimilation and escaping stereotypical roles citizens are forced to play.

“Eat a Bowl of Tea” is a study in cultural bridging. It’s the story of a U.S.-born new husband, trying to work within the traditional ways, and a China-born new wife, eager to join the "dream" of America, clashing with two family-minded fathers and gender-related “social bifurcations,” according to information at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097261/. The story is set in New York City’s Chinatown in 1949.

The School of Art’s Friday Night Film Series is sponsored in part by filmmaking Professor William Arscott. The Cole Art Center, SFA’s historic downtown gallery, is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.