Catfish in Black Bean Sauce

Catfish in Black Bean Sauce is a 2000 comedy-drama film directed by Chi Muoi Lo in his directorial debut about a Vietnamese brother and sister raised by an African American couple. The film stars Chi Muoi Lo, Paul Winfield, Sanaa Lathan, and Mary Alice.

Catfish in Black Bean Sauce
DVD cover art
Directed byChi Muoi Lo
Written byChi Muoi Lo
Produced byChi Muoi Lo
StarringChi Muoi Lo
Paul Winfield
Sanaa Lathan
Mary Alice
CinematographyRudy M. Fenenga, Jr.
Dean Lent
Edited byDawn Hoggatt
Music byStanley A. Smith
Distributed byBlack Hawk Entertainment
Release date
  • June 9, 2000 (2000-06-09)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Cast

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  • Chi Muoi Lo as Dwayne Williams/Sap
  • Sanaa Lathan as Nina
  • Paul Winfield as Harold Williams
  • Mary Alice as Dolores Williams
  • Lauren Tom as Mai
  • Kieu Chinh as Thanh
  • Tyler Christopher as Michael
  • Tzi Ma as Vinh
  • George Wallace as James
  • Wing Chen as Samantha
  • Amy Tran as Young Mai
  • Kevin Lo as Young Dwayne/Sap
  • Kevin D’Arcy as Guard 1
  • Andre Rosey Brown: Guard 2
  • Ron Galbraith as Doctor
  • Calvin Nguyen as Teacher
  • Richard F. Whiten as Motorcycle Cop
  • Lalanya Master as Bank Teller
  • Mark Daniel Cade as Assistant Bank Manager
  • Jedda Jones as Agnes
  • Roxanne Reese as Nadine
  • Saachiko Magwili as Mother
  • William Thomas as Douglas
  • April Tran as Interpreter
  • Thomas Ryan as Lt. Davis
  • Carol Kiernan as Nurse
  • Thu Hong: Opera Singer
  • Ho Lo as Man at Airport
  • Vien Hong as Transvestite

Reviews

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The film has received mixed reviews. A Los Angeles Times review noted that as the film's writer/director/actor Chi Muoi Lo "spread himself too thin, resulting in an uneven picture but one that has plenty of substance and emotion".[1] Roger Ebert wrote that the film was "a first draft for a movie that could have been extraordinary".[2] The San Francisco Chronicle noted that the film was "a comedy of interracial wariness and misunderstanding marked by a refreshing lack of sappiness".[3]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Result Category Recipient
2001 First Americans in the Arts Awards Won Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Film) Tyler Christopher
2001 Political Film Society Nominated Exposé
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1999 Florida Film Festival

New Port Beach Film Festival

Won

Won

Won

Best Narrative Feature Chi Muoi Lo
Best Narrative Feature

Best Screen Play

Chi Muoi Lo

Chi Muoi Lo

1999 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival[4] Won Theatrical Feature Films - 004 Chi Muoi Lo

References

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  1. ^ "Catfish in Black Bean Sauce". fandango.com. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  2. ^ Ebert, Roger (2000-07-28). "Catfish In Black Bean Sauce". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  3. ^ Catfish in Black Bean Sauce at metacritic
  4. ^ Leydon, Joe (June 15, 1999). "Catfish In Black Bean Sauce". Variety. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
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