Chinese Food and Immigrant Experiences in Pushing Hands and Take Out

This paper compares Chinese food in Pushing Hands (1991) and Take Out (2004) and analyzes its relationship with immigrant life. In Pushing Hands, Mr. Chu keeps his past living habits through cooking Chinese food. Food also reflects the conflicts between him and his son’s family and helps him build relationships with others in the Chinese community. In Take Out, Ming Ding, who has no legal status, makes a living through food delivery. Under the pressure of debt and violence, he must work hard to earn enough money to repay what he owes that day. This paper analyzes specific scenes of cooking, eating, and food delivery in both films and draws on research about food and Chinese immigrants to compare the two protagonists’ experiences. It argues that Chinese food has different meanings for them: for Mr. Chu, it relates to memory and belonging; for Ming Ding, it is first a job that supports his livelihood. These differences relate to their family relationships and social situations. Both films also let viewers see that behind familiar Chinese food are immigrants’ different lives.