The Jade Pendant

Set in the volatile decade after the Civil War, the narrative tracks immigrant life in the American West. The story culminates around the 1871 Chinese Massacre in Los Angeles, a pivotal event in the community's history. The period is defined by migration, labor strife, and cultural clash.

The film unfolds in Los Angeles' Chinatown during the 1870s, a crowded enclave of markets, temples, and wooden storefronts. It is a place where Chinese immigrants face exploitation, discrimination, and the underworld of organized crime. The Jade Pendant portrays daily life amid the tension between newcomers, local authorities, and competing tongs.

❤️ Love & Family

Peony and Tom's romance anchors the story amid danger and oppression. They fight to build a life together and protect their child against outside threats. The theme centers on devotion, resilience, and the costs of choosing love in a hostile world.

⚖️ Oppression

Peony's struggle against enslavement illustrates how gender, race, and crime collide in the immigrant experience. The film shows coercion, fear, and the ruthlessness of organized crime as forces that try to break the family. Resistance and courage spotlight the human spirit in dire circumstances.

🌏 Identity & Migration

The characters negotiate dual identities as Chinese immigrants in America, balancing tradition with adaptation. The story tracks assimilation, cultural retention, and intergenerational hopes. The jade pendant symbolizes their connection to home and protection amid displacement.