Filmmaker Flora Moon was born in Indiana of parents who had fled Red China. Because of her family's efforts to avoid scrutiny during the Cold War era of the 1950's they tried hard to blend in with their surroundings and little mention was made at home of their Chinese past. Light -hearted letters which would pass the scrutiny of censors on both sides of the Bamboo Curtain were the only way family ties were maintained

It was not until Flora's Aunt Ping immigrated to America in the late eighties that Flora learned about her ancestors and the intertwining of Chinese history and family history. She also learned about the recent past, when her "capitalistic" family was subject to attack during the Cultural Revolution. The silence her parents had maintained about their past hardships and the loneliness experienced as immigrants was finally revealed

The thoroughly westernized Flora Moon once identified with ancient Rome, not ancient China. She had been labeled a "banana" -- yellow outside but white inside Now a new dimension--her Chinese roots-- has been revealed and absorbed . A charming film for use in multicultural studies.

Closed Captioned

"Images from photographs, film clips, printed documents, and other archival images are the background for a clearly articulated voiceover narrative is beautifully presented and well-paced. Suitable for classes studying Chinese-American culture at virtually any grade level, from middle school to university." Sheila Intner,Simmons College GSLIS at Mt. Holyoke for EMRO