Saving Face (2004)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

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:

Chinese American | Surgeon | Lesbian | Single Mother | Dancer

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 | USA:96 min (San Francisco Asian American Film Festival) | 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:

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

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Destination Films

Trivia:

The scene in the video shop with Joan Chen features a shot of the video for The Last Emperor (1987). Chen starred in that movie.

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:

Little Girl: Are you guys gonna kiss?
Wil: Huh? No... what?
Little Girl: Are you going to french kiss when you go to Paris?
Vivian Shing: go play on the jungle gym

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2006 Glitter Awards (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

NI SHI WO XIN ZHONG YUN YI DUO

Two women fall in love. They have to deal with cultural and family and professional issues.

This first time director/author has made a movie that will have universal appeal. Although the main part of the plot centers on two Chinese women who are successful professionals and are love with each other, the movie is not "about" Chinese people or "about" lesbians. The story concerns how two interesting people deal with cultural taboos, with their places in the culture and in their families, and with the demands of their respective careers (surgeon and ballerina). But, even with this serious backdrop, the story is told with humor; there are more laughs and smiles than tears. When you see the movie, note how beautifully the romance between these protagonists develops.

It's likely that this movie will have limited distribution, at least at the the beginning. Look for it. You will be glad you did.