amy tan
Directed by James Redford
USA, 2021
SYNOPSIS
A look at the life and work of author Amy Tan, one of America’s most respected literary voices.
AMY TAN:
UNINTENDED MEMOIR
Amy Tan has firmly established herself as one of America’s most respected literary voices. Born to Chinese immigrant parents, it would be decades before the author of The Joy Luck Club would fully understand how her mother’s self-destructive tendencies were rooted in watching her own mother kill herself after being forced into the former marital system of concubinage.
“Tan’s life and career in vivid, living colors.”
In 1989, Amy Tan’s first novel, The Joy Luck Club, was published to great commercial and critical success. With the blockbuster film adaption that followed as well as additional best-selling novels, libretto, short stories and memoirs, Ms. Tan has firmly established herself as one of the most prominent and respected American literary voices working today. Born to Chinese immigrant parents into 1950’s America, it would be decades before Ms. Tan would come to fully understand how her mother’s self-destructive tendencies were rooted in watching her own mother kill herself after being forced into the former marital system of concubinage. This painful family inspired her stories of women without the power to choose their lives. An interweaving of archival imagery, artful animation and live performance from Ms. Tan form the basis for this documentary that allows the audience to journey through Ms. Tan’s life and career in vivid, living colors.
For speaking opportunities and all press inquiries, please contact lynn@kpjrfilms.co
Amy Tan Reflects on Creative Collaboration for ‘Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir’
Variety
Amy Tan Says ‘Joy Luck Club’ Sequel Movie Is Stuck in Legal Limbo, but That’s Not Bothering Her
Indie Wire
Sundance Q&A: Editor Jeff Boyette on James Redford’s Amy Tan Biopic
Post Perspective
“The Whole Team Really Came Together in an Amazing Way”: Editor Jeff Boyette on Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir
Filmmaker Magazine
The Unexpected Loss Amid ‘Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir’ Premiere At Sundance
Forbes
The making of an accidental film about an unintended memoir
Dropbox Blog
‘Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir’ Film Review: Portrait of the Artist as a Daughter of Immigrants
The Wrap
Film Review: “Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir” Is An Inspiring Film About An Amazing Author
Laughing Place
‘Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir’ – Variety Sundance Studio
Yahoo
Watch Variety Studio Interview: Amy Tan Reflects On Creative Collaboration For ‘Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir’
Bev’s Girl Films
‘Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir’ – Variety Sundance Studio
Flipboard
Chinese-American author Amy Tan on film of her life Unintended Memoir, and The Joy Luck Club movie sequel
South China Morning Post
Sundance 2021: The late Fairfax filmmaker James Redford turns lens on Sausalito’s Amy Tan
Marin Independent Journal
Sundance 2021: 2 Bay Area films debut, steeped in tragedy
The Mercury News
Sundance in San Francisco: A guide to the 2021 virtual film festival
SF Chronicle Datebook
Sundance Shines on the Bay with Locally Made Films
KQED
Here are 10 titles playing at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival likely to grab attention
The Salt Lake Tribune
21 Films to See at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival
KQED
Race in America
NBC Bay Area
PBS Examines Amy Tan’s Unintended Journey on American Masters
Preview
How author Amy Tan makes her personal trauma universal
Fast Company
Where the past begins
Bay Area Boulder Weekly
CAAMFest 2021
Datebook San Francisco Chronicle
the production
crew
Karen Pritzker
Executive Producer
James Redford
Director
John Behrens
Director of Photography
Jeff Boyette
Editor
Suzanne Debrunner
Line Producer
Bob Edwards
Sound Designer
Cassandra Jabola
Producer
Michael Kantor
Executive Producer
Jean Tsien
Story Consultant
Kathryn Bostic
Music by
Xaviera López
Animation by
Ilana Rappaport
Assistant Editor
THE CAST
Amy Tan
John Tan Amy’s younger brother
Sandy Bremner Amy’s best friend
Lou DeMattei Amy’s husband
Molly Giles Amy’s mentor and editor
Kevin Kwan Author of Crazy Rich Asians
Daniel Halpern Editor of Where The Past Begins and The Valley of Amazement
Isabel Allende Author of The House of the Spirits
Lisa Lu Actor, “An-mei” from The Joy Luck Club
Rosalind Chao Actor, “Rose” from The Joy Luck Club
Tamlyn Tomita Actor, “Waverly” from The Joy Luck Club
Ronald Bass Co-screenwriter of The Joy Luck Club
Kieu Chinh Actor, “Suyuan” from The Joy Luck Club
Dave Barry Author and bandmate of The Rock Bottom Remainders





