This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Named after Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani is a new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers and reintroduce repertory classics in context. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
Mabel Cheung’s debut unfolds as the quintessential American story: that of the “illegal” immigrant, doing anything they must to survive in the so-called land of the free. After a raid on a Canal Street garment factory leaves Cheung (Ching Yong-Cho) targeted by immigration agents, the mainland refugee resorts to a sham marriage with a reluctant acquaintance named Cindy to access a green card. An NYU graduation project miraculously funded by Shaw Brothers Studio, Mabel Cheung’s The Illegal Immigrant was entirely shot on location in New York’s Chinatown, in authentic gambling parlours and video stores, amidst real-life gangsters and undocumented immigrants cast as non-professional actors. From this results a remarkable encapsulation of a time and place that no longer exists; a comic tragedy that establishes, with unusual freedom, the foundations of what would become Mabel Cheung “immigration trilogy” a short few years later with the successes of An Autumn’s Tale and Eight Taels of Gold.
directed by: Mabel Cheung
starring: Ching Yong-Cho, Wu Fu-Sheng, Liao Chong-Yu, Peter Lee Gui-Yuen
1985 / 98 min / 1.85:1 / Cantonese, Mandarin, Taishan, English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.75 / 5 from 12 reviews.
Review topics: ["drama","release","features","restoration","film","flick"].
"Incredible thenthingd they Shaw Brothers was throwing money around towards the end. Mainland China projects that birth Jet Li. And igniting the career of Mabel Cheung! An especially timely release being about the difficulty of immigration within the US of A."
"The Illegal Immigrant is a gritty little crime drama that feels very rooted in its time, with a raw low-budget style that actually adds to its atmosphere. The movie moves at a strange pace and can feel rough around the edges, but there’s something genuinely compelling about its bleak tone and street-level portrayal of desperation and survival. It’s definitely more of a curiosity for cult film fans than a hidden masterpiece, but it has enough personality to make it memorable."
"This particular flick was very interesting. From the unique artwork on the cover, to the equally unique content, it was very different, but also quite engaging. It kept me interested from beginning to end! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
"Cheung, an illegal immigrant in a completely Chinese area of New York, is caught by two US Immigration Officers. He arranges to pay Cindy Li, the Chinese-American sister of his young friend, to marry him to help his application for a green card. The Immigration Officers are suspicious that the marriage is a sham when they don't find them living together."
"Another great release from Kano, and a classic release part of a trilogy, The Immigrant hits just as hard today as it did during its release. The special features are interesting, and the film is slow but lingers even after the credits roll. Highly recommend this"
"Looking forward to checking out more of her films."
"A vibe change from the typical Shaw Brothers. Great film"
"It’s like they say: people aren’t illegal. But this guy? He walks the line."
"Another winner of a time capsule for NY"
"80's New York Chinatown. Very cool."
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