Sneha Girap (Editor)

Children of Invention

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
6.6
/
10
1
Votes
Alchetron
6.6
6.6
1 Ratings
100
90
80
70
61
50
40
30
20
10
Rate This

Rate This

Director
  
Initial DVD release
  
August 10, 2010 (USA)

Duration
  

Country
  
United States

6.6/10
IMDb

Genre
  
Drama

Music director
  
T. Griffin

Writer
  
Language
  
English

Children of Invention movie poster

Release date
  
January 18, 2009 (2009-01-18) (Sundance)March 12, 2010 (2010-03-12) (United States)

Cast
  
(Elaine Cheng),
Michael Chen
(Raymond Cheng),
Crystal Chiu
(Tina Cheng)

Similar movies
  
Fish Tank
,
Jupiter Ascending
,
Factory Girl
,
Pitch Perfect 2
,
The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things
,
At the Edge of the Abyss

Children of invention 2009 official trailer true hd 720p


Children of Invention is an American independent feature film written and directed by Tze Chun. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, screened at more than 50 film festivals, and won 17 festival awards including 8 Grand Jury or Best Narrative Feature prizes. The film was released theatrically in eight U.S. cities beginning February 2010, on Video-on-Demand in June 2010, and on DVD in August 2010.

Contents

Children of Invention movie scenes

Plot

Children of Invention wwwgstaticcomtvthumbmovieposters3526636p352

The first half of the movie centers around Elaine Cheng (played by Cindy Cheung), a single mother and immigrant living in the Boston suburbs, and the life she provides for her two children (played by Michael Chen and Crystal Chiu). As a way to cope and entertain themselves, the kids invent things. The mother is drawn to pyramid schemes as a way to get ahead and repeatedly loses money. Eventually her two young children are left to fend for themselves when their mother is arrested by the police. The film is loosely based on Tze Chun's own childhood, as well as his Sundance 2007 short film, Windowbreaker.

Production

Children of Invention Children of Invention New Theatrical Trailer 2010 YouTube

Though set in Boston, the film shot 20 days in and around New York City and 4 days in Boston. The film premiered at Sundance just 10 months after the first draft of the script was completed.

Critical reception

Children of Invention Children of Invention Old Trailer wCaptions YouTube

The film was very well received by critics, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice, New York Post, Variety, LA Weekly, USA Today, Chicago Reader, Film Threat, and The Boston Globe. It was named one of the Top 13 Films of 2009 by Hammer to Nail, and one of the best undistributed films of 2009 by several critics including IFC's Alison Willmore. In 2010, the year of its commercial release, it made several more "best films of the year" lists including the list by Turner Classic Movies' blog.

Accolades

Children of Invention Children of Invention Reviews Metacritic

The film also won the following 17 festival awards:

Children of Invention Children of Invention Reelhouse

  • Grand Jury Prize, Best Narrative Feature - Independent Film Festival of Boston
  • Grand Jury Prize, Best Narrative Feature - Newport International Film Festival
  • Grand Jury Prize, Best Narrative Feature - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
  • Grand Jury Prize, Best Film - San Diego Asian Film Festival
  • Best Narrative Feature - San Diego Asian Film Festival
  • Best Narrative Feature - Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival
  • Outstanding International Feature - ReelWorld Film Festival
  • Best of Festival - Roxbury Film Festival
  • Special Jury Prize, Best Narrative Feature - Sarasota Film Festival
  • Special Jury Award - San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
  • Special Jury Prize, Acting Ensemble - Nashville Film Festival
  • Special Jury Prize, New Talent to Watch in Acting - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
  • Special Jury Prize, Emotional Storytelling - Indie Memphis Film Festival
  • Honorable Mention, Editing - Woodstock Film Festival
  • George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award - DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival
  • Puma Emerging Filmmaker Award - Hawaii International Film Festival
  • Visionary Award - Austin Asian American Film Festival
  • Distribution

    Tze Chun and the film's producer Mynette Louie were named in Ted Hope's list of "21 Great Free Thinkers of Indie Film" for their DIY festival/DVD distribution strategy. The film debuted theatrically in Boston on February 26, 2010, and in New York and Los Angeles on March 12, 2010, followed by additional theatrical engagements in other cities. It was released on Video-on-Demand beginning in June 2010, and on DVD on August 10, 2010.

    References

    Children of Invention Wikipedia
    Children of Invention IMDb Children of Invention themoviedb.org


    Similar Topics