Double Happiness (1994)

Director:

Mina Shum

Writer:

Mina Shum (writer)

Release Date:

28 July 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Twenty-two year old Chinese-Canadian Jade Li comes from a traditional Chinese family, who try to put...

Plot Keywords:

Immigration | Gay Bar | Audition | Father Daughter Relationship | Culture Clash

Awards:

6 wins & 5 nominations

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

Also Known As:

Bonheur aigre-doux (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for one scene of sexuality and brief strong language.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

British Columbia Film Commission

Quotes:

Jade Li: I look like Connie Chung.

Movie Connections:

References "The Brady Bunch" (1969)

Soundtrack:

Kung Fu Fighting

brave drama that is seldom told

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.