Shaolin Ulysses Directed by Martha Burr & Mei-Juin Chen, 2004

...high-flying, high-kicking action..." - Variety

If you get a kick out of kungfu, you don’t want to miss this exhilarating film tracing the journey of five kungfu monks in search of the American dream. Hailing from China’s legendary Shaolin Temple, these men are not only accomplished Zen masters but famous kungfu stars with huge followings. Now they’ve left it all behind to forge a new future in America – Shaolin style – and bring their special brand of Martial Arts to the west.

Displaying their best kungfu moves for the camera, the monks share with us their stories, ambitions and visions for the future. From building American temples, to performing in Las Vegas shows to producing Olympic sports champions, the monks present a vivid, contemporary portrait of the immigrant experience, as each goes in search of their own meeting place between Shaolin kungfu, Zen Buddhism, and Western Culture. And as they work to bridge the vast divide between East and West, our monks close in on the answer to the ultimate question: will Shaolin change America, or will America change Shaolin?

Bonus Features

Director and Editor Commentary; Two Bonus Films