The Shangri-la Cafe

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The Shangri-la Cafe is a 2000 film written and directed by Lily Mariye. The film is about a Japanese American family who conceals their identity and reluctantly adopts discriminatory practices in order to operate a Chinese restaurant within the hostile cold war climate of Las Vegas in the late 1950's.

Contents

[edit] Cast

  • Montana Tsai as Annie Takashi
  • Joanne Takahashi as Emiko Takashi
  • Sam Anderson as The Man
  • Christopher Chen as Tad Takashi
  • Albert Chien as Jimmy Takashi
  • Cedric Harris as Reverend Charles Osteen
  • Montae Russell as eorge Brooks (as Monté Russell)
  • Margaret Laurena Kemp as Mildred Brooks
  • Kelli Kirkland as Helen Osteen
  • Charles 'Brick' Tilley Jr. as Man #2
  • Bob Bergen as Television Announcer (voice)

[edit] Reviews

“It’s an impressive directing debut for actress Lily Mariye. Heartfelt and unusually sensitive to the heightened experience of children, “The Shangri-la Cafe” is a strong showcase for Mariye’s directing talents. It deserves to be expanded into a feature.”
-Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

"An extraordinary debut by a unique new voice in American filmmaking."
-Jonathan Kaplan, Director, The Accused, Over the Edge

"... Lily is a director with vision."
-Anthony Edwards, Actor/Director

"A compelling and emotional story, superbly told, Lily Mariye has much to say and this is a powerful beginning"
-Lesli Linka Glatter, Director, The Proposition, Now and Then, State of Emergency

"A stirring evocation of a very personal place and time, 'The Shangri-la Cafe' serves up a tender, bittersweet childhood recollection of a not always glittering Las Vegas past."
-Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter

[edit] Awards

  • National Organization for Women Filmmaker of the Year (Lily Mariye)
  • Best Short Film Award, Moondance International Film Festival
  • Best Screenplay Award, Brussels Independent Film Festival
  • 2nd place, Best Short Film, Nashville Independent Film Festival
  • 2nd place, Best Short Film, Woodstock Film Festival

[edit] Official selection

[edit] External links

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