Author S. Louisa Wei’s Golden Gate Girls goes behind the camera to reveal the untold story of Esther Eng, one of the first female Chinese American directors in the U.S. A San Francisco native and out lesbian, the slick-haired Eng drew her inspiration from the traditional Chinese opera, directing and producing her first films by the age of 19. Her contribution to film history is sadly overlooked—her 11 feature films mostly lost. Wei’s documentary paints a fascinating picture of how Eng’s career in filmmaking broke through gender and racial boundaries in Hollywood and Hong Kong, a time when opportunities for Chinese women were few and far between. With captivating archive of newly discovered images and interviews with those who knew her, Wei uncovers a rich chapter of film history that challenges both gender hierarchies and national narratives.