Center for Asian American Media

Director Edward Wong explores the nature of political and ideological allegiances as he follows the separate paths taken by two men, Alex Hing and Yook Wong, the filmmaker’s father who joined the Communist Revolution that swept through China in 1949 but “denounced his faith” after years of separation from his family. Hing founded the Red Guard – modeled after China’s Communist youth cadres – in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the ’60s. Both embraced communism in different contexts yet faced similar opposition for living by their beliefs. A fascinating testament to the commitments that fuel all political struggles, COMRADES compares and reviews Wong’s and Hing’s accomplishments to illuminate the legacy of their efforts upon activism today.

“...a fascinating, heartfelt portrait.”

- Chicago Reader

"...juxtaposes his father's infatuation with Mao Zedong's revolutionary promise with the social fervor that inspired young radicals in San Francisco to study Maoist teachings in the late 1960s... captures compellingly the political ideals and disillusionment that, continents apart, linked two men from very different worlds."

- Carolyn Wakeman, University of California, Berkeley

Recognition
San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
Golden Reel Nominee, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film and Video Festival

College/Institution

K-12/Public Library/Community Group