Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

This film addresses the racial problems that blighted Western Societies some 150 years ago. meaning the exclusion and persecution of minorities by those groups who had the most men, followers, weapons, money and at times an active and aggressive mob mentality. This wonderful film deals with the early trials of the first Chinese settlers to the US and those who followed them and it illustrates several disgraceful real-life situations when seen from a Chinese person viewpoint. To keep production costs down it lacked the to be expected western film scenes containing the all too familiar cowboys and gangsters, fast gun play, cattle herds, busy farriers, a brutal but fair Sheriff, the local Army Fort, townsfolk including women and children, it lacked not having a gold mine or men panhandling for gold in the river scenes (it was alleged to be set in a mining town) but ignoring this it did contain an excellent film land education on slavery, misguided job protectionism, with accurate and well portrayed historical pointers about Chinese immigration to the US. The last time I saw a film similar to this was called Indo-China whose star was Catherine Deneuve. Praise be to all who worked on this wonderful production and great actors they were. Rosalind Chao was the star of this film and deserved an Oscar.

OK, I will admit upfront that I am biased about this movie. "Thousand Pieces of Gold" had its world premiere in my city in Idaho in 1991 because it was the only sizeable town with a large old movie palace near the locations where these true-life events took place (but NOT where they were filmed, which was in Montana). (Lewiston even gets a shout-out in the subtitles near the beginning of the film.) During the several weeks that this movie played, I went to see it MANY times on the BIG SCREEN; watching it on TV screens just does not do the scenery justice, though we will perhaps never see it again in theaters. The story of Polly Bemis that the movie is based on is real, though the filmmakers do take some liberties with the facts. That does not bother most of us locals. We were all thrilled to see this story brought to life on film by many fine actors, capturing the flavor of what life was like in 19th Century Idaho mining towns--especially if you were not white. Rosalind Chao's performance is exceptional, and I have been told that this was the FIRST American movie made with a Asian-American actress in the lead role. Although the film seems to come to a rather abrupt end -- as though the filmmakers ran out of money -- it is still a fantastic film that deserves more attention than it has received, and certainly should be released on DVD. Make a point to see it, or own it on VHS, if you can.

I wish this fantastic film were available on DVD. I own the VHS and find it more compelling with each viewing. Rosalind Chao and Chris Cooper ( who later went on to win an Academy Award) give topnotch performances and make me believe in the power of love and redemption. Their slowly building relationship in a hostile world and its low-key but very powerful denouement is a textbook in fine acting.The historical period has been covered before but never from the point of view of a Chinese immigrant woman. Lalu's courage, strength and intelligence as well as her sensuous exotic beauty are inspirational. As Charlie, Cooper gives a fine portrayal of a decent if flawed man who triumphs in the end. A real classic!

This is a movie I have seen on TV twice - an inspiring movie about one woman's determination and industry. There is also a touching love story. But one of the most amazing parts of this very interesting film, is that it is based on a true story and, if I am not mistaken, shows a picture of the real heroine of the story at the end. This is an important story for women's "herstory". The acting is fantastic, and the story is compelling. My only real challenge with this movie, is that I decided I wanted to see it again and can not find it anywhere! But I will continue my search for this important historic film until I find it - I believe it is worth the effort :-)