Thousand Pieces of Gold Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Thousand Pieces of Gold Blu-ray Movie Review

A compelling drama with first-rate performances by Rosalind Chao and Chris Cooper

A compelling drama told through a unique lens, Thousand Pieces of Gold explores the journey of a young Chinese woman as she is brought to America against her will circa the late 1800's. Executive produced by Sidney Kantor, Lindsay Law (American Playhouse), and John Sham (Echoes of the Rainbow), the epic film is an impressive production that is worth seeking out. The stirring lead performances by actress Rosalind Chao and supporting actor Chris Cooper are central to the filmmaking and help make Thousand Pieces of Gold a must-see cinematic experience.

Lalu (Rosalind Chao) is in for more than she bargained for: the beautiful young woman is sold by her impoverished family in China and brought to the American West to be used as a prostitute. Lalu has absolutely no desire to be used as a town-house prostitute and objects to the manner in which she is tossed around town in her new surroundings. The vile Hong King (Michael Paul Chan) attempts to overturn her objections and make a quick-buck off of her good looks as he attempts to put her on auction as a prostitute.

Renaming Lalu “Polly” is the start of a rocky road between Hong King and Lalu. Then Charlie (Chris Cooper) enters the equation: though a business partner to Hong King, Charlie is a much kinder spirit. He objects to the poor treatment of Lalu. A love story starts to unfold as Lalu and Charlie meet eye-to-eye. Exploring the struggles of prostitution in the America west, Thousand Pieces of Gold delves in to the life journey of Lalu as she seeks to find happiness in a life of turmoil.

The best element of the film is unquestionably the performances by the two lead actors. Both Rosalind Chao and Chris Cooper are exceptional in their respective roles as Lalu and Charlie. These fine actors deliver nuanced performances which are inspired and invigorating. There is clear chemistry between the two actors and the sexuality between them makes the filmmaking more enlivened. Chao finds a balance between showcasing her character's struggles and strengths. Cooper is charismatic as the lovable hero of the story.

"...and all I asked for was skittles."

Another compelling element to the production is the costumes by Lydia Tanji (The Joy Luck Club, Life Tastes Good). There are many impressive costumes on display throughout the entire film. Given the subject matter revolves around prostitution, there are a number of seductive gowns used and worn throughout the story. Chao looks gorgeous in her attire. Cooper is similarly convincing with his effective costume designs.

The music score composed by Gary Malkin (Maria's Lovers, Breakin') provides the film with a nice sound-scape that adds to the filmmaking style. The score is often serene (and sometimes counter to events taking place in the film) and yet it finds a good balance artistically alongside the cinematography by Bobby Bukowski (The Messenger, Arlington Road).

Based on the novel by Ruthanne Lum McCunn (Like Cats and Dogs), Thousand Pieces of Gold is particularly effective as a story because of the excellent screenplay written by Anne Makepeace (Coming to Light, Rain in a Dry Land). The characters are at the front and center of the script. Exploring the prostitution of the west is a less prominent backdrop. The script emphasizes the remarkable journey of Lalu and Charie. The pace and tone of the screenplay is right-on-target.

Directed by Nancy Kelly (Rebel with a Cause, Downside Up), Thousand Pieces of Gold is an entertaining, thought-provoking, and compelling cinematic experience. The director brought forth excellent performances from the cast. The filmmaking is never overly sensational and is instead the work of a focused filmmaker attempting to explore the characters and their lives. The film blends the culture of China and America effectively and Kelly gives the audience a glimpse at lives struggling to overcome the difficulties of the times. Though Thousand Pieces of Gold is not a perfect film, it is truly effective at delivering a compelling actor showcase: Kelly deserves accolades for accomplishing this task (which is no small feat).

Thousand Pieces of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray in North America from distributor Kino Lorber, Thousand Pieces of Gold is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio. The restoration is marketed as featuring a new 4K restoration. However, the presentation has a note at the start of the film mentioning that the materials were scanned at 5K. (Perhaps Kino notated it as a 4K restoration to avoid consumer confusion.)

The visuals are breathtaking and the clarity jump of a new scan is apparent throughout the entire film. There is ample detail and the outdoor landscapes take on an even more vivid tone. Colors are subtle but effective and seem true to the source-material. The film might not look as vivid as a modern production but the natural film looks splendid with this new scan. An outstanding effort (and a scan that is free from egregious issues with dirt, debris, and other detrimental print anomalies).

Thousand Pieces of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 (and in both English & Mandarin). The lossless audio presentation is effective and compelling. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The music score is similarly well utilized. Sound effects are minimalistic and kept to a minimum and yet the sound stage is effective at rending the necessary components with ease. A solid track that gets the job done.

Optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing) are provided.

Thousand Pieces of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes a booklet featuring an essay penned by Thousand Pieces of Gold screenwriter Anne Makepeace.

On disc supplements are as follows:

Audio Commentary featuring Director Nancy Kelly and Producer Kenji Yamamoto

Radio Interview with Director Nancy Kelly (Audio Only, 30:40) is presented courtesy of Chinamerica Radio.

Thousand Pieces of Gold Trailer (HD, 1:36)

Thousand Pieces of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There is much to appreciate about the lyrical and sensitive filmmaking of Thousand Pieces of Gold. The storytelling is compelling and the performances are truly outstanding to behold. The film explores the obstacles faced by women sold into prostitution during the late 1800's. Lead actress Rosalind Chao is phenomenal in the film and her chemistry with Chris Cooper is palpable. The production merits are top notch. The Blu-ray release includes a terrific video-audio presentation (with a 5K scan, no less). Fans are strongly encouraged to add the release to their collection. Highly Recommended.