A reflection on family and the power of a nation, this elegant and cerebral drama explores the disquietude of Shanghai and its residents in the wake of Tiananmen Square and the return of Hong Kong to mainland China.

Frenchtown follows the story of Tess, an American archivist and longtime Shanghai resident; DJ, a Canadian writer looking for his ancestral home in the old French Concession; James, a boozy, gruff war hero searching for his estranged son; and Sam, a Xinhua journalist who clings to his unshakeable faith in China’s ultimate and glorious destiny. The result is a study of the complex cultural, political, and emotional battles fought in Shanghai during a time of great uncertainty.