Deseret News
James Redford’s film just premiered at Sundance. But he didn’t live to see it
The filmmaker and son of Sundance founder Robert Redford died in mid-October, when the documentary on “Joy Luck Club” author Amy Tan was in the final stages of editing
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Jim McHugh, Sundance Institute
While watching the documentary about her life, “Joy Luck Club” author Amy Tan had one big observation: “I look like I’m on the verge of crying all the time.”
At its heart, that statement is really a testament to director James “Jamie” Redford.
Tan was reluctant when Redford first approached her about doing a documentary. The 68-year-old author had been in the spotlight ever since publishing “The Joy Luck Club” her first novel in 1989.
January 27, 2021
Author Amy Tan in a still from the documentary feature Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir. The film was made by James Redford, son of cinema legend Robert, who died from cancer before it was finished. KPJR Films
When James “Jamie” Redford, son of cinema legend Robert, wanted to make a film about Amy Tan, the Chinese-American author was not initially convinced.
“I was reluctant to do this, because I’m trying to move toward more privacy as I get older,” Tan, 68, tells the Post from her home in Sausalito, California. “But Jamie was somebody I knew through friends and he was so compassionate, very kind. He was charming and persistent and he got me to agree, promising that everything would be subject to my approval.