A documentary about the life of the filmmaker's great-grandfather, a Chinese acrobat and magician who had a very successful vaudeville act that travelled all over the world. Examines how Long Tack Sam overcame isolation, poverty, cultural and linguistic barriers, and racism to succeed as an international entertainer. However, he refused to appear in motion pictures because of the negative portrayals of Chinese people. Includes interviews with family, friends, and associates, interwoven with archival material, and animated recreations.