Carved in Silence

Overview

Carved in Silence tells the story of Chinese immigrants who were detained at the United States Immigration Station at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay from 1910-1940. Emigrants were detained for weeks, months, even years, enduring harsh interrogations and physical examinations. Their feelings were expressed through the poetry carved into the walls of the locked barracks. Interviews are intercut with historical footage and dramatic re-enactments to powerfully translate the impact of racial exclusion on a generation of Chinese immigrants.