Chan Is Missing Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Chan Is Missing Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 7, 2022

Wayne Wang's "Chan is Missing" (1982) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Wayne Wang and critic Hua Hsu; new program with Wayne Wang and Ang Lee; archival documentary on the making of the film with cast and crew interviews; and more. In English, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked"

Wayne Wang’s films can be divided into two groups. In the first group, you will find arthouse favorites like The Joy Luck Club (1993) and Smoke (1995) as well as big studio projects like Maid in Manhattan (2002) and Last Holiday (2006). In the second group, you will discover Wang’s more obscure and often even controversial films like Life is Cheap… but Toilet Paper is Expensive, The Center of the World, and Chan is Missing. The films from these two groups are so different that Wang’s involvement with a few of them can appear almost suspicious.

Like most cinephiles, I discovered Wang during the great renaissance of American independent cinema in the early 1990s. It was because of Virginia Madsen that I sought Slam Dance, a very twisty film noir with an indescribable sense of humor, which convinced me to explore more of Wang’s work. I liked quite a few of the films I saw, but by the time Maid in Manhattan appeared in my local video store in the early 2000s, I knew that something had destroyed Wang’s very unique sense of humor.

This sense of humor, which I have to admit a few times remained elusive to me for much longer than it should have, has a special purpose in Wang’s films. It is either very direct or very subtle, but its presence is always a lot more interesting than the obvious subject matter of Wang’s films. This is a crucial detail, so if you ignore it, there is an excellent chance that you would have a very frustrating experience with quite a few of Wang’s films. (For the record, I am not referring to the big studio projects and most recent films Wang has done since The Center of the World).

Chan is Missing is set in San Francisco’s Chinatown and follows closely two cabbies, Jo (Wood Moy) and Steve (Marc Hayashi), tracking down a mysterious character who has disappeared with a large chunk of their savings. They know pretty well the area where the man has been active, but do not know much about his private life, which is why they have to rely on information from local residents to figure out how to locate him and recover their money. However, while playing reluctant detectives, the cabbies slowly begin to realize that they might be chasing a ghost in a place that has been perfectly content to treat him as such.

The ‘obvious’ subject matter of Chan is Missing is the hunt for the ghost, but this film is neither an exotic supernatural thriller nor a tense crime drama. It is actually a quirky social commentary on life in San Francisco’s Chinatown where different groups of Asian Americans have created a very unique melting pot. Even though they are fully aware of its inner forces, like the viewer, Jo and Steve slowly begin to grasp its enormity and, in the process, the many particular ways in which it shapes people’s lives.

In Chan is Missing, Wang’s sense of humor is easily detectable and produces plenty of easy-to-digest hilarious material, but what makes it effective is the freedom it provides for honest analysis. For example, Wang rightfully highlights the deep political division within the Asian American community and a myriad of cultural issues that keep different immigrant groups suspicious of each other. Also, the hunt for the ghost produces different and very interesting takes on the American Dream rationalized with honest arguments that could seem almost controversial now.

Shot with an extremely small budget and in black and white, Chan is Missing has a rough borderline documentary appearance. The street footage from Chinatown, in particular, easily could have been extracted from archival reels used utilized by a local TV station.

*Wang shot Chan is Missing on 16mm film stock. However, theatrical screenings of Chan is Missing were done with a 35mm blowup.

Chan Is Missing Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Chan is Missing arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This digital transfer was approved by director Wayne Wang."

I have a very old Chan Is Missing of DVD release in my library which was produced by Kino Lorber in 2006. I did some quick comparisons with it and I can categorically declare that the Blu-ray release offers a dramatically better technical presentation of the film.

Obviously, there is plenty of footage that still looks a bit rough, meaning that delineation and clarity could vary depending on how Wang's camera moves and captures outdoor and indoor activities. Shadow nuances are quite fluid as well, though they are actually very consistent with the film's borderline documentary appearance. Grain exposure is vastly superior, too. However, I must point out that the DVD release does not do a very good job of retaining the native information that is on the master that was used to produce it. The grayscale is very similar, but in 1080p everything looks fresher and better balanced. Image stability is excellent. There appear to be a few flecks here and there, but the surface of the visuals is very healthy. All in all, despite its serious budget limitations, I think that Chan is Missing looks wonderful in high-definition. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Chan Is Missing Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The dialog is easy to follow. However, the original soundtrack incorporates plenty of organic sounds and noises, so in certain areas, you should expect to encounter minor unevenness. Dynamic intensity is extremely limited because the film does not have an elaborate music score. I did not encounter any distortions, audio dropouts, or other similar anomalies to report in our review.

Chan Is Missing Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Wayne Wang and Hua Hsu - in this exclusive new program, Wayne Wang and critic Hua Hsu discuss the director's background, his first introduction to American culture, Bruce Lee's popularity and the hero image it promoted in America, and the conception and themes of Chan is Missing. In English, not subtitled. (34 min).

• Wayne Wang and Ang Lee - in this exclusive new program, Wayne Wang and Ang Lee discuss the genesis of Chan is Missing, what the film accomplished in the particular moment in time it emerged from, and their creative philosophies and working methods (especially in English language films), and the sense of humor that is so crucial in the former's work. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• Wayne Wang and Dennis Lim - in this program, Wayne Wang and critic Dennis Lim discuss the director's childhood years in Hong Kong and relocation to America, his passion for cinema, and body of work. Also, there are some quite interesting observations about the initial response to Chan is Missing. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Is Chan Still Missing? - this archival documentary about the production of Chan is Missing was produced by Debbie Lum in 2005. It features clips from interviews with actors Wood Moy, Marc Hayashi, and Laureen Chew, sound technician Curtis Choy, and critic Stephen Gong. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• Trailer - a remastered trailer for Chan is Missing. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Trailer - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Oliver Wang's essay "Lost (and Not Found) in Chinatown" as well as technical credits.

Chan Is Missing Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Wayne Wang's Chan is Missing is a quirky social commentary on life in San Francisco's Chinatown where different groups of Asian Americans have created a very unique melting pot. Wang's flexible and always effective sense of humor gives the film its identity, but its strength is actually in its documentary authenticity. My first experience with this film was many years ago and I have kept a copy of it in my library because I like it quite a lot. I think that it looks great on Blu-ray, so if its subject matter appeals to you, do not hesitate to pick it up for your library. RECOMMENDED.