cup-o-robots

So just came out of seeing Saving Face at the Angelika Film Center - and decided to do a quick blog at the Apple Store. Haha, yes, I even made an image.

Anyways.. While I was very eager to see this movie, I had no idea what to expect. I was thinking maybe it’s a “cute romantic comedy with typical Asian-American family craziness thrown in” or “something Ang Lee would do.” But what I got was a very fresh, funny and enjoyable film. It is now my new favorite film (and not just because it’s partly about Asian lebsians - har-har) and I can totally see myself going again and bringing more friends to check it out. Sure you may find it more entertaining if you grew up in an Asian household, but no matter who you are, you will totally get a kick out of it!

For a 91 minute film, there’s a lot going on. Having your parents try to set you up with a BF or GF (who ideally should be a doctor), arguing with your elders about the old country and having “been given better opportunities in the States” and the rest of all the classic Asian-American fare applies. But now there’s a lot more thrown in. Contemporary issues, sexual orientation, secrets and affairs - it’s an updated, edgier movie than say The Joy Luck Club. While that film had a lot of emotion that came from backstory and the conflicts between generations, this film is completely set in present time and how these different generations (young and old) and their personal affairs affect one another, with all the emotion and heart emitting from that. There are times where its cliche and maybe even stereotypical, but instead of trying to hide and shy away from it, the film embraces it and gives it depth. For instance, when the lead actress - played wonderfully by the adorable Michelle Krusiec - commits herself to her new lover - played by Lynn Chen - we can see the story play out in our minds. We know that one will try to keep their relationship secret (particulary for it’s the same-sex and having that Asian halo around), we know that there’s going to be some event or issue that comes out that will create an ultimatum for them (one would have to leave, or a relative would try to split them up, or both), and we know that there will be some sort of resolvement - and you’re just waiting for all this to unfold. What happens is that the characters bring a lot warmth to it. Krusiec is believable and creates that aura where the viewer can be like “oh, I’ve been in a similar situation” or “I can relate to that.” On top of that, the mother of Krusiec’s character, is a whole another story in itself: she is a single, middle-age, pregnant, Mandarin woman, who refuses to say who the father is and is disowned from her own father. Her scenes are very insightful from being really entertaining - like being setup on dates - and the most dramatic - whenever she is quiet and becomes almost frozen, its hypnotizing. The mother is played by Joan Chen, giving us a very unique performance in her long, varying career. To those who know her work, she always played that mysterious, beautiful Asian woman, in a number of films and TV series, from The Last Emperor to Twin Peaks to Wild Side (where Joan Chen also plays a bi-sexual/lesbian). This time around she takes a very different role and yet she seems so comfortable, but keeping that fresh feeling. She speeks hardly any English in the film, and while there is a good amount of Mandarin in the film overall, we read her face and her mannerisms to pick up on the emotions and how her character thrives.

Okay, I will probably pick-up on this later, but to sum it up.. It’s a great film, with enough surprises to make it worthwhile and something to check out with friends. There’s a lot I can say about writer/director Alice Wu (example, her dialogue, pace and timing is spot on, and she’s able to give another take of NY after so many autuers from Scorsese to Woody Allen) but for now I’ll just say this.. watch for her. She’s going to be big. With her contemporaries like Justin Lin and Georgia Lee, they’re bringing a whole new wave of Asian-American cinema.

And I think I’m starting to have a crush on actress Michelle Krusiec.. Yes, add her to Pepsi Girl Mandy Amano, Heart Evangelista, and Aubrey Miles.. erf