A romantic comedy about Chinese American lesbians and generational conflicts, sounds unconventional, right? Well, the opening of the film does look promising, smooth and dynamic, with good rhythm. But soon I found myself watching just another formulated Hollywood style melodrama with clichéd caricature of Mainland Chinese immigrants being thrown in here and there. The turn and twist of the plot is melodramatic and the representation of Chinese community in Flusing is unsurprisingly stereotypical. As the film develops, I was really disappointed for the narrative and visual style being manipulated in such a emotional and clichéd way. Chinese American lesbians story could be just a smart marketing strategy to cater for curious Western audience with its exoticism and eroticism while our society starts becoming more tolerant toward homosexuality.
The two youthful lovers do give some refreshing touch to the film, but they don't seem to have real connection with other characters. Joan Chen's role as a Chinese daughter/mother, being obedient--in the sense of giving herself up to a marriage chosen by her father--and defiant--getting pregnant by a much younger lover after being widowed for many years--at the same time, is not convincing and consistent.
These being said, Alice Wu makes a decent directorial debut, but it would be an overstatement to claim it a excellent one.
The two youthful lovers do give some refreshing touch to the film, but they don't seem to have real connection with other characters. Joan Chen's role as a Chinese daughter/mother, being obedient--in the sense of giving herself up to a marriage chosen by her father--and defiant--getting pregnant by a much younger lover after being widowed for many years--at the same time, is not convincing and consistent.
These being said, Alice Wu makes a decent directorial debut, but it would be an overstatement to claim it a excellent one.