So goes to the U.S. to open a martial arts school. Around this time, many Chinese people were sold off to U.S. railroad companies, and were brutally treated by the Americans under the harsh working conditions. Thus, the American workers' hatred towards the Chinese immigrants is high. As a result, So gets into trouble with the Americans and the mob, and calls Master Wong for help.
So goes to the U.S. to open a martial arts school. Around this time, many Chinese people were sold off to U.S. railroad companies, and were brutally treated by the Americans under the harsh working conditions. Thus, the American workers' hatred towards the Chinese immigrants is high. As a result, So gets into trouble with the Americans and the mob, and calls Master Wong for help.
The film's central critique of xenophobia and racism against Chinese immigrants in 19th-century America, coupled with its emphasis on cultural preservation and the defense of marginalized communities, aligns with progressive values, leading to a left-leaning rating.
The movie features a cast primarily composed of East Asian actors, aligning with its cultural context and characters, without explicit race or gender swaps of traditionally white roles. However, its narrative explicitly critiques traditional identities by portraying certain white characters negatively as antagonists, highlighting themes of racial prejudice and exploitation against Chinese immigrants and Native Americans.
The film 'Once Upon a Time in China and America' does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Its narrative centers on martial arts, cultural adaptation, and historical events in the American West, without engaging with queer identity in any capacity.
The film features Aunt Thirteen (Siu-kwan) as the primary female character, but her role does not involve direct physical combat. No other female characters are depicted engaging in or winning close-quarters physical fights against male opponents.
This film is part of a series featuring established characters like Wong Fei-hung and Thirteenth Aunt. All major characters maintain their canonical and historically recognized genders from previous installments and source material.
The film features established characters like Wong Fei-hung, who are consistently portrayed by actors of their historically and canonically established East Asian race. New characters introduced for the American setting do not have prior canonical racial identities to be swapped.
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources