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Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart

  • 19851985
  • PGPG
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
419
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
  • Comedy
In San Francisco, an immigrant widow welcomes the new year with some unhappiness: she's sixty-two now, she wants to make a trip to China to pay last respects to her ancestors, a fortune tell... Read allIn San Francisco, an immigrant widow welcomes the new year with some unhappiness: she's sixty-two now, she wants to make a trip to China to pay last respects to her ancestors, a fortune teller has told her this is the year she'll die, and a daughter, Geraldine, remains unmarried.... Read allIn San Francisco, an immigrant widow welcomes the new year with some unhappiness: she's sixty-two now, she wants to make a trip to China to pay last respects to her ancestors, a fortune teller has told her this is the year she'll die, and a daughter, Geraldine, remains unmarried. Geraldine does have a boyfriend, but she's not sure she's ready for marriage, and, anyway... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
419
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Wayne Wang
  • Writer
    • Terrel Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Laureen Chew
    • Kim Chew
    • Victor Wong
Top credits
  • Director
    • Wayne Wang
  • Writer
    • Terrel Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Laureen Chew
    • Kim Chew
    • Victor Wong
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos11

    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Laureen Chew and Victor Wong in Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Laureen Chew and Victor Wong in Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Victor Wong in Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Kim Chew, Laureen Chew, and Victor Wong in Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)
    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laureen Chew
    • Geraldine Tamas Geraldine Tam
    Kim Chew
    • Mrs. Tamas Mrs. Tam
    Victor Wong
    Victor Wong
    • Uncle Tamas Uncle Tam
    Ida F.O. Chung
    • Auntie Mayas Auntie May
    Cora Miao
    Cora Miao
    • Juliaas Julia
    John Nishio
    • Richardas Richard
    Amy Hill
    Amy Hill
    • Amy Tamas Amy Tam
    Keith Choy
    • Kevin Tamas Kevin Tam
    Mary Chew
    • Old m.j. playeras Old m.j. player
    Nora Lee
    • Old m.j. playeras Old m.j. player
    Joan Chen
    Joan Chen
    • Young m.j. playeras Young m.j. player
    Rita Yee
    • Young m.j. playeras Young m.j. player
    George Woo
    • Bar patronas Bar patron
    Elsa Cruz Pearson
    • Elizaas Eliza
    Helen Chew
    • Linda Tamas Linda Tam
    Jarrett Chew
    • Baby Tamas Baby Tam
    • Director
      • Wayne Wang
    • Writer
      • Terrel Seltzer
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In San Francisco, an immigrant widow welcomes the new year with some unhappiness: she's sixty-two now, she wants to make a trip to China to pay last respects to her ancestors, a fortune teller has told her this is the year she'll die, and a daughter, Geraldine, remains unmarried. Geraldine does have a boyfriend, but she's not sure she's ready for marriage, and, anyway, he lives in Los Angeles and Geraldine doesn't want to leave her mother alone in her declining years. Mrs. Tan's cheerful brother-in-law tries to help out. Is there any solution that will enable Mrs. Tan to hold onto her culturally influenced and deep-seated hopes, yet keep those hopes from suffocating Geraldine? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • chinese american
    • asian american
    • independent film
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Mark Dacascos filmed a scene with Joan Chen but the scene was deleted.
    • Alternate versions
      PBS edited 2 minutes from this film for its 1987 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Silver Bullet/Twice in a Lifetime/Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins/Dim Sum (1985)

    User reviews3

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart is Wayne Wang's slice of life of Chinese widow and her American-raised grown daughter
    Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart is basically the touching story of a Chinese immigrant widow who becomes sad because she's told by a fortune teller that she would soon die, so she constantly reminds her last single daughter to marry and resolves to visit her homeland one last time. Kim Chew is the widow and her real-life daughter Laureen is the one who feels pressured to tie the knot. They both give good, wonderfully nuanced performances along with Victor Wong as the uncle who wants to marry Kim. Look for Amy Hill, who I remember as the Grandma in "All-American Girl", as one of the other married daughters and Joan Chen as one of the young mah-jong players. Director Wayne Wang provides exquisite Chinese-American atmosphere in the Chinatown setting of California. Plenty of subtle humorous touches throughout. Nothing more to say except if you want to experience the Chinese-American way of life on film, Dim Sum is as good a place to start as any.
    helpful•8
    0
    • tavm
    • Aug 11, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 9, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dim Sum - Etwas fürs Herz
    • Filming locations
      • Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • CIM
      • Project A Partnership
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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