AMERICA REFRAMED: Finding Kukan

By Jennifer Robinson / Web Producer

Published March 6, 2023 at 4:45 PM PST

Watch on demand for a limited time with the PBS App

Filmmaker Robin Lung documents her 7-year journey investigating the work and legacy of Chinese American visionary Li Ling-Ai, the uncredited producer of "Kukan." A landmark film, "Kukan" showcased China’s resistance to Japanese occupation during World War II, and was one of the first American feature documentary films to receive an Academy® Award in 1942.

Lung discovers a badly damaged film print of "Kukan," which had been lost for decades, and pieces together the inspirational tale of the two renegades behind its making - Li Ling-Ai and Rey Scott. Relentless, Ling-Ai was determined to shift America’s perception of the Chinese plight by telling the story from a new point-of-view and not only hired Scott but sponsored the rare enterprise.

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LiLing Ai and Rey Scott at ClayTheater in 1941

"Finding Kukan" uses vintage and unseen archival footage to create an unforgettable portrait of a filmmaking pioneer, and shed a light on the longstanding underrepresentation of women and people of color in the movie-making business. Join the film discussion on Facebook

The film is available on demand with the PBS App through March 17, 2023.

AMERICA REFRAMED: Finding Kukan | Trailer

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