在这部铁与丝喜剧/剧情片中,是一个年轻的美国人MARK因为喜欢中国武术，在大学中学习中文，22岁大学毕业时申请到了到长沙医学院当英语教师的机会。当时是1982年，正值中国改革开放初期，长沙又不是沿海城市，因此保留着中国独特的文化.Mark记录下了自己在长沙的见闻，写成了《铁与丝》一书，电影于1988年在杭州拍摄。不仅是外国人感受到了文化的冲突，就是中国人通过电影也可以深刻感受到中国的巨变。
Mark Salzman always was interested in Kung-Fu and the Chinese culture, claims to have seen every Kung-Fu movie. 1982, with a degree in Chinese literature, he visits a province university in China for two years to teach Chinese teachers the English language. He learns the refinements of correct behavior among Chinese people, makes friends with his pupils, falls in love with the young doctor Ming, learns Wushu (similar Kung-Fu) from the famous teacher Pan... but also learns about political repression, especially when he's forbidden contact with some of his friends.
何时百炼钢，化为绕指柔。道听途说来的电影。铁与丝的一点感悟。Iron & Silk。
