The Joy Luck Club (1993)

The life histories of four Asian women and their daughters reflect and guide each other.

Director:

Wayne Wang

Writers:

Amy Tan (novel), Amy Tan (screenplay)

Stars:

Tamlyn Tomita, Rosalind Chao, Kieu Chinh

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kieu Chinh	...	Suyuan - The Mother
Tsai Chin	...	Lindo - The Mother
France Nuyen	...	Ying-Ying - The Mother
Lisa Lu	...	An-Mei - The Mother
Ming-Na Wen	...	June - The Daughter
Tamlyn Tomita	...	Waverly - The Daughter
Lauren Tom	...	Lena - The Daughter
Rosalind Chao	...	Rose - The Daughter
Chao Li Chi	...	June's Father
Melanie Chang	...	June - Age 9
Victor Wong	...	Old Chong
Lisa Connolly	...	Singing Girl
Mai Vu	...	Waverly - Age 6-9 (as Vu Mai)
Ying Wu	...	Lindo - Age 4
Meijuan Xi	...	Lindo's Mother (as Mei Juan Xi)

Storyline

Through a series of flashbacks, four young chinese women born in America and their respective mothers born in feudal China, explore their past. This search will help them understand their difficult mother/daughter relationship.

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Plot Keywords:

asian | chinese | flashback | china | woman | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong depiction of thematic material

Details

Country:

USA China

Language:

English Mandarin Cantonese

Release Date:

29 October 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

El club de la buena estrella

Filming Locations:

610 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$32,861,136

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies.

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Goofs

When Ying Ying is talking to Lena in Harold's apartment, Ying Ying's multi-strand pearl necklace is twisted in some shots and untwisted in others.

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Quotes

Waverly Jong: As is the Chinese cook's custom, my mother always insults her own cooking, but only with the dishes she serves with special pride.
Lindo Jong: This dish not salty enough. No flavor. It's too bad to eat, but please.
Waverly Jong: That was our cue to eat some and proclaim it the best she'd ever made.

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Connections

Referenced in Hall Pass (2011)

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Soundtracks

Gamethon
Written and performed by Michael A. Lang
Courtesy of Michael A. Lang Enterprises, Inc.

User Reviews

This Movie Is "Best Quality"

I must agree with Todd Victor Leone's comment. The fact that 'The Joy Luck Club' was not nominated for at least ONE Academy Award is a TRAVESTY !!! This movie was very well directed, the acting by all actors was superb, the cinematography was excellent, camera angles, wardrobe, casting, screenplay - ALL GREAT. So why no awards ? I have come to the conclusion that Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is comprised of a bunch of silly peoples and from now on when I want an opinion I intend to come to this website and listen to YOU guys first and watch whatever you recommend on my VCR while the Academy Awards are on. I'm mad as hell and I ain't gonna take this anymore !

I have seen the 'Joy Luck Club' about five times and each time I want to be a part of this wonderful group of friends. I want them to invite me to play mah-jong and taste all the wonderful Chinese foods they make and I'd just love to ask June out on a date (she's so cute). So far I am an Italian / American but when I watch this movie I want to be an Italian/Chinese/American.

This movie is actually eight stories in one but each has a common thread which is the gifts given and received my mothers and daughters to each other - gifts of hope, courage, resolve, and acceptance. This movie is definitely a tear jerker but after five viewings my tears now remain in their ducts and refuse to be jerked but I still love this fantastically wonderful celebration of art and the cultural diversity that makes America great .... despite the ineptness of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.