My Wedding and Other Secrets (2011)

The contemporary story of Chinese New Zealand-born over-achiever Emily Chu, raised to believe she can get anything she puts her mind to. Even if 'anything' is at odds with her traditional ... See full summary »

Director:

Roseanne Liang

Writers:

Roseanne Liang, Angeline Loo

Stars:

Michelle Ang, Matt Whelan, John Barker

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Michelle Ang	...	Emily
Matt Whelan	...	James
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Barker	...	Danny
Pei-pei Cheng	...	Mrs Chu
Todd Emerson	...	Tom
Mark Ferguson	...	Mr White
Mike Ginn	...	Vincent Wong
Roseanne Liang	...	2nd AD
Simon London	...	Eric
Matt MacDougall	...	Audience Member 2
Andrew Munro	...	Film Tutor
Novia Ng	...	Film Goer
Hwei Ling Ow	...	Mandarin Teacher
Michael Saccente	...	Fencing Coach
Janet Tan	...	Auntie May

Storyline

The contemporary story of Chinese New Zealand-born over-achiever Emily Chu, raised to believe she can get anything she puts her mind to. Even if 'anything' is at odds with her traditional Hong Kong born parents' wish for her to become a doctor like her two older sisters. Everything is coming up roses - until she meets James, a European New Zealander, and accidentally falls in love with him. But if her father finds out, she will face disownment. By the time Emily realises that she's sacrificing the respect of her family to follow her heart, James, too, has fallen irrevocably in love and there's nothing for it but to try and keep their relationship a secret. Happy endings don't come easy, if at all, but that doesn't mean they don't happen. But for Emily to get one, she needs to show James and her family that she has learned a lesson about the selflessness of love.

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Genres:

Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 2011 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Girl Meets Boy

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company Credits

Production Co:

South Pacific Pictures

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Warm but not Hot, Nice but not Nauseating.

I am a man, and not really into reviewing "Date Movies" but My Wedding and Other secrets is a lovely little film. It's not going to change the world in any way, but it's a diverting and well made bit of cinema.

At the heart of it, MWAOS is simple, personal love story that bridges the race divide in contemporary New Zealand, and let's face it, the major plot line on it's own is no reason to see this film. It's been done a million times before. What makes this more than just a "Bend it Like Beckham" clone is that it's based on the director, Roseanne Liang's, own true story. It gets quite meta at times, as the film heavily references the making of it's own principal source material, a documentary make by Liang about the relationship, upon which the film was based.

The intimacy these links provide brings a definite charismatic warmth into the film. Certainly, the performances of the two leads are OK if not brilliant, but the gentle awkwardness of the two protagonists has a real, personal charisma to it. They are watchable and relatable, although I do wonder why Emily didn't ever invest in a less naff set of eyeglasses.

The supporting cast is filled with interesting characters. In particular Emily's entire family (especially the mincing, gossipy Aunty) and James' super-geeky flatmates grab your attention every chance they get.

In summary, it's a warm and affable love story, told well by a decent cast. But the really memorable thing about this film is the intimacy brought to every level of the production by Liang herself.