Claim Letter

"Iron and silk" is a very suitable title, because this film about the contrast between East and West, between real life and perception. This film is based on a true story about Mark Salzman and his real-life experience in China.

Mark Salzman is an American who accepts a job teaching English at a small Chinese college. In 1982, he has graduated the Yael University, after he got diploma of the Chinese language and literature, he went to the Hunan Medical College in Changsha in China for two years to teach Chinese teachers the English language.

Mark had been interested in China since the age of thirteen, when he had first seen the television movie Kung Fu and he have seen every Kung-Fu movie. Before he came to China, he had studied Kung Fu, Chinese art and calligraphy.

One day Mark and his new student were running in the morning and this new student bring him to Wu Shu training class. Mark was inspired by teenagers’ performance of Wu Shu, which was like in a film about Kung Fu he has seen before. After seen, Mark straightly went to ask their teacher – Master Pan become his teacher. Master Pan was one of the famous Wu Shu teacher in China, people call him “Steel fist”. At first Master Pan refused teach Mark Wu Shu technique, because he thought that foreigners do not know how to “put up with hardship”，however then he agreed. Neither Mark nor Master Pan did not know what to expect from each other, because they are so different. Mark is perceived as a typical tourist who came in a foreign land to find a new amusement; in contrast, Master Pan is very strict and pedantic man.

Mark taught English for middle-aged students, in turn, they taught Mark the refinements of correct behavior among Chinese people, Chinese real life, and culture and he learned about political repression, especially when he has forbidden contact with some of his friends. The various people he meets – professors, bureaucrats, fishermen, students – come to life as he describes their clothing, customs, habits, living conditions and demeanor. Nevertheless, the most important meeting in his life was the meeting with young girl Ming in the library. She was a doctor, a gynecologist; she loves read English poem and novels. Mark and Ming they both have the same hobby is a reading books. They were in love, unfortunately, their love has no future, because of the cultural differences and social restrictions.