I just came from a premiere showing of a new feature film "The Year of the Yao." The film documents the entire process of Yao Ming's first year in the NBA--from his reaction in Shanghai to being chosen first in the NBA draft to his final showdown with Shaquille O'Neill for a coveted playoff spot. I am almost ashamed to admit it, but by the closing credits this battle-hardened China hand had shed a few tears. This is a very well-made film.

As a random sample I brought both non-China and non-basketball fans, and they all concurred that this piece of work humanizes China in a way that thousands of newspaper column inches cannot. This was not just about China, the U.S., or basketball, but common humanity. Memorable scenes include: Yao's tiny bedroom in his apartment in Shanghai, juxtaposed with the mansion awaiting him in Houston. The bureaucratic send-off for him by the Shanghai Sports Association (complete with requisite cadre speech about "winning glory for the Motherland." You can see the conflict in Yao's eyes; sadness at leaving home, but resentment at government officials having so much control over his life). Yao's unique and hilarious relationship with his new African-American teammates, complete with jokes about Chinese and Soul food (with requisite comic revulsion at eating fish heads, Yao's first Thanksgiving turkey, and the surreptitious serving of snake to an unsuspecting teammate).

The film revolves around the relationship between Yao and his young American interpreter. They live together, experience every waking moment of the madness that was Yao's first year in the NBA together (complete with throngs of Chinese fans treating him like the savior from Shanghai in every city he plays in), and form a special, moving bond. Their relationship is familiar to anyone who has fallen in love with a foreign culture, but especially serves as a personification of the still relatively new and complex--but deeply emotional and mutually respectful (if the politicians would stay out of the way)--connection between the U.S. and P.R.C.

There is so much in this film that will be familiar and touching to Westerners who have lived in China. You get the picture, and should see the movie.

LINK:
The Year Of the Yao website (with trailer)