Vanishing Son (1994 TV Movie)
8/10
Unknown Little Gem
2 April 2017
In China, the history teacher and violinist Jian-Wa Chang (Russell Wong) is a quiet man that lives with his father and his younger brother Wago Chang (Chi Muoi Lo), who is a college student and political activist with his girlfriend Lili (Vivian Wu). One day, Wago gets in trouble during a protest and Jian-Wa is forced to help him against the government army. They need to flee from China and they head to the United States. They are stowaways in a fishing vessel but they are arrested by the police and meet the Vietnamese gangster Fu Qua Johnson (Marcus S. Chong) in the cell. Jian-Wa and Wago get political asylum and are released from jail; however the job promised by Fu Qua is for gangster in his gang. Jian-Wa seeks for a honest job despite the difficulties, but Wago prefers to join the Vietnamese gang becoming a prominent gangster. Meanwhile Jian-Wa meets the musician Clair Armstrong (Rebecca Gayheart) and they fall in love with each other. But the blood ties of Jian-Wa with Wago are strong and he feels that his brother needs his support.

"Vanishing Son" is an unknown little gem with the saga of two Chinese brother separated by their mettles but connected by their blood ties in America. The story is engaging and full of action and romance, with great performances of Russell Wong, Chi Muoi Lo and the lovely Rebecca Gayheart. This film was surprisingly released only in video in Brazil in the 90's and even watching for the second time eighteen years later, it is still wonderful. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Dragões de Sangue" ("Blood Dragons")

Note: On 01 April 1999, my vote was nine.
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