Name: The Search for General Tso
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2014
Duration: 71 min
Cast: Susan Carter, Ian Cheney, Philip Chiang, Andrew Coe, Liang Xiao Jin

What The Search for General Tso Is About

Ian Cheney's 2014 documentary opens with a simple question: where does General Tso's chicken, present in almost every Chinese restaurant in America, come from, and who was General Tso? Following that question, the film ends up telling the history of Chinese immigrants in the United States: railroad labour in the nineteenth century, the laws that banned Chinese immigration, why running a restaurant became almost the only option, and how the cuisine was rewritten for American palates. Tracing the dish, Cheney travels to Tso's home region in China and to Taiwan, and reaches the family of the chef who created it. The result is a history of migration in the shape of a food documentary. The register is light and funny; the weight is in the history behind it. Who it's for: viewers who like documentaries that join food culture to migration history. Who it's not for: anyone wanting only recipes and kitchen footage; the film is really social history.

How did this film move you?

Trailer

▶

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Search for General Tso about?

Ian Cheney's 2014 documentary opens with a simple question: where does General Tso's chicken, present in almost every Chinese restaurant in America, come from, and who was General Tso? Following that question, the film ends up telling the history of Chinese immigrants in the United States: railroad labour in the nineteenth century, the laws that banned Chinese immigration, why running a restaurant became almost the only option, and how the cuisine was rewritten for American palates.

Where can I watch The Search for General Tso?

The Search for General Tso is available to watch on digital platforms such as Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+. Current rent and buy options are listed in the "Where to Watch" section on this page.

How long is The Search for General Tso?

The Search for General Tso runs for 71 minutes (1h 11m).

When did The Search for General Tso come out?

The Search for General Tso was released in 2014.

Who directed The Search for General Tso?

The Search for General Tso was directed by Ian Cheney.

Who stars in The Search for General Tso?

The Search for General Tso stars Susan Carter, Ian Cheney, Philip Chiang, Andrew Coe.

What is The Search for General Tso's rating?

The Search for General Tso holds 6.9/10 on IMDb and 6.5/10 on TMDB. Its Pulse Score is 69 out of 100.