Filmmaker Julie Mallozzi takes the audience along as she attempts to unearth her Chinese roots in \Once Removed."" The 1999 documentary consists of footage from Mallozzi's 1995 trip to China, where she met her maternal relatives for the first time and learned about her ancestors' role in China's history.
Upon her arrival in China, relatives who can only remember her mother as a small child awkwardly greet Mallozzi. The interactions between Mallozzi and her kin are somewhat strained throughout the film, as Mallozzi pushes them to remember a difficult past. Mallozzi discovers her family's rich history.
Many members were prominent scientists and martyrs during China's Cultural Revolution. One of the most touching tales of the film is that of Fei Gong, Mallozzi's great uncle and a university professor who criticized the Nationalist government of the 1940s. His story is told by one of his former students who was with Fei Gong on the day he was last seen. The student, who died of lung cancer during the filming of ""Once Removed,"" looks back on Fei Gong's life with heartfelt adoration and emotion, making the incredible story of the professor's life even more moving.
Another interesting story comes from the physicist sister of Mallozzi's great uncle Wang Shou-Jue. The woman was held in jail for six years because of her knowledge of the affair between Mao Zedong's wife and her brotherin- law. She dismisses the torture of solitary confinement with a wave of her hand, saying, ""I wasted a lot of time in jail.""
""Once Removed"" takes the viewer on the same emotional path Mallozzi takes as she tries to reconnect with her family. There are a few technical flaws in the film'Mallozzi's narration, for one, is flat and monotone, which lends an air of disconnection to the story'but the images that are captured by Mallozzi's handicam truly bring her story to life. By keeping the narration impersonal, the emotions of her relatives as they recount their tragic histories are greatly amplified.
