Seen: July 2nd, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 8
July 7th, 2007. 7/7/7. I wondered what film would fall on this date, and it's interesting that it's about the Chinese, a culture which holds numerology in high regard.
Here's hoping it's auspicious.
I'm really tempted to just say that this is a great film and you should see it. Then I could get on with the rest of my day. But that'd be a cop-out, and I'd have to come back and re-do it anyway.
Instead, let's just tell you a few great things about it.
First, it's a cultural film. I'm not Asian, so I can't speak with authority, but from a cultural perspective, this film seems so personal and genuine that it's mesmerizing. The way people interact, the microcosm that this community has created within the larger one is fascinating.
These people have brought their tradition with them. They are living in America, but to the best of their ability, staying Chinese. The dialog is a constant mix of American English and Chinese (I'm sorry but I don't know the dialect). While this can be confusing at times, it underscores the juxtaposition of cultures, and the inevitable clashes between them. These issues are internal, not from outside bigotry and prejudice, but from their own reticence to change. It's powerful.
Into this scene we're given a story of two women who don't fit the traditional conceptions that the community is trying to preserve. It's their journey that we're here to experience. That they're mother and daughter intertwines these stories. They are important to each other, and it's interesting to note how they affect each other.
The writing here is great. The story moves at a natural pace. Things don't have to be frenetic to hold our interest. There are great moments and running jokes. It's a heartfelt piece that doesn't need to be sentimental to succeed.
The acting is top-notch. These people are their characters. While some go over the top on occasion, I felt it correct for their characters. Joan Chen is wonderfully subtle and generally understated. Watch her dating scenes for some brilliant body language. Michelle Krusiec is excellent as well. Her beauty is severely downplayed here, to great effect. She brings a lot to Wil through subtle and not so subtle use of gestures, habits and body language. Lynn Chen seems the odd one out here. While she does a nice job, Vivian is a bit of a caricature. I didn't quite buy that she was passionate about anything. Her responses are appropriate, but seem forced at times.
I don't think this film is revolutionary. I don't know if it can become a classic. But it's and absolutely wonderful piece of work, that appeals on multiple levels.
Note: It should be noted that some consider this a "gay" film. I think that's a shame. While it's true that the director's own experiences coming out are a driving force in this film, characterizing it that way prejudices the viewer, whatever their orientation. This is a great film, with great writing, directing, casting and acting. It's a wonderful story. It does have some gay characters but it doesn't require categorization or labeling to succeed.
The Good: Great casting and performances
The Bad: Minor performance quibbles.
The Ugly: Hypocrisy
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