Product Details

• Actors: Michael Chen, Cindy Cheung, Crystal Chiu
• Directors: Tze Chun
• Writers: Tze Chun
• Producers: Mynette Louie, Trevor Sagan
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Indieblitz Releasing
• DVD Release Date: August 10, 2010
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003M987PG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,196 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Children of Invention" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Features include:

•MPAA Rating: NR
•Format: DVD
•Runtime: 86 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice debut from writer/director Tze Chun deserves a wider audience, July 14, 2010

By 

Andy Orrock (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Children of Invention (DVD)

We saw this film at the 2009 Dallas International Film Festival and, along with the rest of the audience, enjoyed it a great deal. It deserves a wider audience. We met talented writer/director Tze Chun after the screening. I'd wanted to speak with him after noting this delightful surprise in the film: much of it was filmed in my hometown of Quincy, Massachusetts. Among other recognizable scenes, the 'a-ha!' moment for me was when we watched his two child actors waiting at the North Quincy 'T' stop for the Red Line train into South Boston. That's not just a random scene: in the past 25 years, Quincy has undergone a significant demographic transformation. In particular, North Quincy's Asian population is substantial. Access to the Red Line has a lot to do with that. Chun grew up in neighboring Randolph. He shows a deep understanding of Greater Boston life. His film is steeped in the authenticity of a true Bostonian.

Chun's script is an interesting one and all-too-real. Hard-working single mother Elaine Cheng (a strong portrayal by Cindy Cheung) looks to build a better life for her kids. She accepts an illegal apartment and then gets enmeshed on the wrong side of a Ponzi scheme. Chun's story makes you understand the circumstances that lead to immigrants often falling victim to these scams. The combination of a strong sacrifice gene and a bit of cultural misunderstanding are a bad combination. The victims? Her two children, suddenly left to fend for themselves.

Working with child actors can be a crap-shoot, but Chun hit the jackpot with young Crystal Chiu who plays daughter Tina. She's an astoundingly good little actress who steals every scene she's in.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You should buy it!, July 15, 2010

By 

Zakia "English teacher" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of Invention (DVD)

I saw Children of Invention at an Independent Film Festival in Boston in April of 2009. I have been anxiously awaiting it's release on dvd since then.
The movie gave me a window into a world I know little about: the struggle for survival of immigrants in the greater Boston area. I laughed and cried, and left the theater curious about what would happen next in the lives of the characters.
As a native Bostonian, I loved seeing my city on the big screen, and portrayed accurately. Nice work, Tze!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, Moving, and Cute kids too!, July 15, 2010

By 

Talia Shulze "Talia" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children of Invention (DVD)

I have been following this film from it's inception to it's release at Sundance and subsequent international film festivals to much acclaim. I just want to say that everyone who put their heart and soul into this fantastic movie did an amazing job. The film is incredible, it's shot beautifully, and the plot is so moving. The child actors in it are also adorable and so talented.
Watch it!