Born In China

Filmmaker John Helde knew for years his white American father was born in China – but beyond that, his dad’s past was a mystery. Born in China, the companion book to the documentary Made in China, tells the story of expatriate American kids growing up in pre-Mao China, and the cultural and political experiences that shaped their lives. Setting off a journey to uncover his father’s childhood story, Helde encounters a cast of thoughtful and resilient Americans whose ties to China made them who they are. Mixing interviews, letters, photographs with Helde’s warm narrative voice, Born in China paints a vivid portrait of a unique American experience – and one son’s quest to understand it all.