IMDb > Double Happiness (1994)
Double Happiness
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Double Happiness (1994) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   712 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 52% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Mina Shum (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Double Happiness on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 July 1995 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Twenty-two year old Chinese-Canadian Jade Li comes from a traditional Chinese family, who try to put... more | add synopsis
Awards:
6 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Carrie Prejean Made a Pact With the Devil (or Perez)?!
 (From E! Online. 5 September 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
brave drama that is seldom told more (20 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Sandra Oh ... Jade Li

Stephen Chang ... Dad Li (as Stephen M.D. Chang)

Alannah Ong ... Mom Li
Donald Fong ... Ah Hong

Frances You ... Pearl Li

Callum Keith Rennie ... Mark (as Callum Rennie)
Claudette Carracedo ... Lisa Chan
Johnny Mah ... Andrew Chau
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Greg Chen ... Uncle Bing
Estelle Coppens ... Lead Woman in Scene with Jade

Lesley Ewen ... Carmen the Casting Director
Nathan Fong ... Dr. Ming Chu / Bartender
Dennis Foon ... Director
Kevin Kelly ... Lead Man in Scene with Jade
Gene Kiniski ... Man at Bus Stop
Rose Lam ... Producer (as Rose Lam Waddell)
Tosca Chin Wah Leong ... Linda Taylor Wong, Ch. 4 News
Mimi Mok ... Mrs. Mar
Laara Ong ... Selina
Tony Seaver ... No -No! Club Bouncer
Wong Shuck ... See-Fu Geomancer
Mina Shum ... Janet Eng
So Yee Shum ... Auntie Bing
May Tam ... Grandmother
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Bonheur aigre-doux (Canada: French title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for one scene of sexuality and brief strong language.
Runtime:
87 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
Jade Li: I look like Connie Chung. more
Movie Connections:
References "The Brady Bunch" (1969) more
Soundtrack:
Kung Fu Fighting more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful.
brave drama that is seldom told, 14 August 2000
8/10
Author: Allan Tong from Toronto, Canada

Mina Shum's Double Happiness bravely explores a group that mainstream film (read: Hollywood) continues to ignore: Asians in North America. That the film features strong acting, good writing and confident direction makes its accomplishments all the more greater.

You don't need to be Asian to enjoy this film, anymore than you have to be Italian to watch The Godfathers. Young women of whatever ethnic backgrounds are bound to identify with the lead character, finely played by Sandra Oh. The daughter-father conflict crosses all national boundaries, and is explored in this film through the eyes of Chinese-Canadians.

I'm a Canadian of Chinese descent, and found the characterizations of the family to be accurate overall. At times, the domineering Father is one-dimensional (tyrannical and cold) and needed to be fleshed out more. The role of the siblings--especially towards their parents--was underplayed and could have offered a contrast to the main relationship between the elder daughter and Dad.

Still, the strict traditionalism of the parents was on the nose, and the struggles of the daughter, Jade, ring true. In fact, I venture to say that Jade was played *too* obediently, and should have broken from her family sooner.

Following this line of thought, the film could have been expanded to explore Jade moving into her own home and finding her own career as an actress, then reconciling (perhaps) with her stern Father at the end.

As it stands, the movie ends abruptly and too soon. Shum and Oh do a fine job of getting Jade on the audience's side, only pull the carpet on her just as she leaves home. The movie begs for closure in the relationship between daughter and father.

Perhaps in the sequel.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Double Happiness (1994)
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can you gimmie a song name! vicdaman
SPOILER **HELP Please*** Frost612
ugh pantsaroni
The girl that plays the sister lizbeths
Someone left the cake out in the rain. Lyrao
Sandra Oh is Korean not Chinese!!!!!! foryoureyesonly88888
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