Chinatown Cha-cha

At the remarkable age of 92, Coby Yee, a former starlet and owner of the illustrious “Forbidden City Nightclub,” reclaimed her place in the spotlight with the senior dance troupe, Grant Avenue Follies. Led by Cynthia Yee, the ensemble brings to life the luminous nightclub era of San Francisco’s Chinatown, simultaneously shattering the conventional image of aging Asian women.

Their transnational tour across the US, Cuba, and China unfurls an exploration of diasporic, Chinese entertainment and a profound understanding of their own Chinese American identities. In Havana, their co-performance with local Chinese Opera singers sparked a vibrant renaissance in the city’s dwindling Chinese community.

An emotive journey back to her father’s homeland in China gave Coby a chance to reflect on familial memories and observe the startling transformation of urban landscapes.

The film stands as a poignant chronicle of Coby’s final journey before her passing at 93, preserving her indomitable spirit. Meanwhile, the Grant Avenue Follies dance on, carrying the torch of their shared heritage.

Director’s statement :

Since 2018, I have embarked on a series of research and filming about Asian American women in show business. I have created four short films and collected an extensive historical archive related to the 1940s to the present. In September 2019, the related short film, Coby and Stephen are in Love, was completed and screened to critical acclaim in the United States, mainland China, and Germany.

My first documentary feature film, Chinatown Cha-Cha, is the centerpiece of the entire project. As a mainland director with a longstanding interest in the subjects of immigration and history, I hope that by telling this story about an elderly Chinese American singing and dancing troupe, I can reaffirm the connection between the two communities, especially in the light of today’s accelerating fragmentation of the world map, and serve as a bridge that crosses national, generational, and cultural boundaries.

On August 14, 2020, at the age of 93, Coby passed away suddenly from a long illness. A week before her death, she was still dancing. Like a swan, she danced to the end of her life. I hope to finish this movie so that Coby and such a special group of women will be remembered by history.