Wayne Wang, although known for his personal drama about Chinese-American life, EAT A BOWL OF TEA, and the Hollywood equivalent, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, has always harbored a fascination with the depiction of sex in the movies. The director remarked, "In college I loved movies like LAST TANGO IN PARIS." Here, in his first digital video feature, he provides, like Bertolucci, a raw and unflinching look at love, sex and money. Working with a script he developed with Siri Hustvedt and Paul Auster, he tells the story of Richard (Peter Sarsgaard), a wealthy dot-com computer engineer who hires Florence (Molly Parker), a dancer at a strip club, to spend three days with him in Las Vegas. She provides a contract limiting her duties to a nightly erotic show, but with no actual sex. But as they develop real feelings for each other both of them are confused about the meaning that sex would have. Richard thinks it will make her his girlfriend, Florence thinks it will make her a prostitute. While this story line may seem borrowed from the comedy PRETTY WOMAN, this is a serious, intelligent film. It's intriguing script is enhanced by the visceral immediacy of the digital video photography. Overall, CENTER OF THE WORLD is an exploration of the politics and emotions that are tied to the struggle between men, women, sex, and money. The script was written by Wang, Auster, and Hustvedt but it is credited to Ellen Wong, a pseudonym that encompasses their collective work.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Making-of - MAKING OF-THE-WEBSITE FOOTAGE
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menus:
Interactive Features
Scene Access
Text/Photo Galleries:
Stills/Photos
Production Notes
Filmographies
Biographies

Peter Sarsgaard: 
Molly Parker: Canadian actress, KISSED, DEADWOOD, SWINGTOWN
Balthazar Getty: American Actor
Carla Guigino: Actress, CENTER OF THE WORLD (2001)
Mel Gorham: Actress/"Blue In The Face

Wayne Wang: Director/Screenwriter, CHAN IS MISSING (1982), SMOKE (1995)

Wayne Wang: Director/Screenwriter, CHAN IS MISSING (1982), SMOKE (1995)
Peter Newman: Producer/Executive

Ellen Benjamin Wong: Screenwriter, CENTER OF THE WORLD (2001)
Wayne Wang: Director/Screenwriter, CHAN IS MISSING (1982), SMOKE (1995)
Miranda July: Screenwriter, CENTER OF THE WORLD (2001)

"...THE CENTER OF THE WORLD benefits from intense, committed performances from both leads: Sarsgaard is intensely appealing..."
"...[The] actors give brave, unfettered performances....THE CENTER OF THE WORLD is a profoundly sad film..."
"...Compelling....It's good to see a film that actually involves serious character interaction..."
"...Involving. Thanks to Wang's tidy, knowing direction, we are subject to some fresh, unsettling insights..."
"...Parker simmers enticingly..."
"...The performances are right on the money....You want real....This movie shows you real..."