Saving Face (2004)

Director:

Alice Wu

Writer:

Alice Wu (writer)

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (Turkey)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A romantic comedy about right, wrong and everything in between.

Plot:

A Chinese-American lesbian and her traditionalist mother are reluctant to go public with secret loves that clash against cultural expectations.

Plot Keywords:

Porn Video | Suspense | Refrigerator | Grandmother Granddaughter Relationship | New York Skyline

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Michelle Krusiec	...	Wilhelmina 'Wil' Pang
Joan Chen	...	Hwei-Lan Gao - Ma
Lynn Chen	...	Vivian Shing
Jin Wang	...	Wai Gung - Grandpa
Guang Lan Koh	...	Wai Po - Grandma
Jessica Hecht	...	Randi - Hospital Co-Worker
Ato Essandoh	...	Jay - Neighbor
David Shih	...	Norman
Brian Yang	...	Little Yu
Nathanel Geng	...	Stimson Cho
Mao Zhao	...	Old Yu
Louyong Wong	...	Dr. Shing
Clare Sum	...	Mrs. Wong
Qian Luo	...	Mrs. Shing
Richard Chang	...	Stephen

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

91 min | Canada:97 min | Argentina:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin | Shanghainese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:R21 (edited version) | UK:15 | Brazil:18 | Argentina:16 | Germany:o.Al. | Malaysia:(Banned) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | Taiwan:R-12 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Destination Films

Trivia:

In 2001, this script won the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) screenwriting award. It was inspired by Alice Wu's own experiences coming out as a gay woman. That win led to the script being produced.

Goofs:

Continuity: Wil consistently wears her hair in a tightly pulled back ponytail, but shortly after her mother moves in she goes to visit her grandfather wearing an army T shirt. While she's adjusting the TV antenna, her hair is uncharacteristically puffed up with no explanation. All scenes before and after show her hair in the tight ponytail. Quite a bit later, there is a scene where Wil's mom sends her to the beauty shop to find out gossip. It's there that Wil is wearing the same army T shirt and getting her hair rolled up in big curls - the end result of which would be puffed hair!

Quotes:

Wai Gung - Grandpa: Don't come back until you have a husband to match the child.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)

Soundtrack:

BALTIMORE SLOW DANCE

A very enjoyable and very different Movie

This movie is much more than the elements of its plot. Just as "The Piña Colada Song" is not really about drinking, "Saving Face" is not really about Asian lesbians who occasionally speak Chinese.

It's too bad that I don't have the skill to describe the pleasure of seeing "Saving Face". It's something like the experience of looking into the fire in the fireplace on a cold evening. But it is more like doing that along with someone special while listening to a sultry version of "Someone To Watch Over Me"; just completely different though.

See it! When I saw this motion picture with the "Movies 101" group in NYC, it was plain from the audience reaction that lots of people adored it with me.