The Choice

Color UCLA Student Film, Preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Set in the present, the story takes place in Los Angeles. A foreign student from Taiwan , who is a great Chinese guitar player, arrives in the U.S. in the 70's. He decides to study nuclear engineering, but after graduation, he takes numerous menial jobs. The story begins when he receives a letter from his brother, notifying him of his visit from Taiwan. Exhaustedly, he tries to impress his brother by renting a new car and a new set of furniture. However, misfortune befalls him, as his house is robbed and he loses his job. For the first time, he is forced to think seriously about the meaning of his life in America.

Directed by Joe Yng-Jaw Jiing, The Choice leans on a strong ensemble — Larry Wu (Yi Min), Richard Fang, Hal Shafer — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1987.