Eat a Bowl of Tea

“Eat a Bowl of Tea” is a film about Chinese Americans and their experiences during the time after World War II. The second-generation man, Ben, must deal with the pressures of an arranged marriage to a Chinese girl, Lee Mei Oi, while also dealing with the expectations of the first-generation Chinese men in the New York Chinatown.

Throughout the film, Ben struggles with his biracial identity. When his father confronts him about why he and Mei Oi have not had any children yet, instead of answering his father’s questions like a “good” son. He argues why their business should be aired to everyone since it is not their concern. He takes the more direct approach and questions his father unlike a good Chinese son who would be filial and answer his superior’s questions. His assimilation into the American culture means that he has become more independent and has taken on more American qualities. In another scene, Ben has a conversation with his drunk father after getting promoted to restaurant manager. He tells his father that he will go back to college after he saves up money. This reveals the more independent mentality that he wants a better lifestyle and that going to college will help him move up. However, at the same time he seems afraid since he tells his father this news when he is drunk. His father responds that he must uphold the family name. While Ben is trying to adapt to living in American society, his father insists that he must stick with the family and that face is everything.

“Eat a Bowl of Tea” reveals the bachelor life that is forced upon the Chinese Americans. The American government wanted to use the Chinese for labor. They would not even allow them to apply for citizenship since their sole focus was cheap labor. Therefore, after the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, very few women came along. In the scene when Ben and Mei Oi go to the banquet, all the men stare at her. They act as if they have not seen a woman in forever. One man acts extremely creepy which probably happened during that time since there was such a shortage of Chinese females.