Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Saving Face

  • 2004
  • R
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Joan Chen in Saving Face (2004)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:58
2 Videos
27 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance

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

  • Director
    • Alice Wu
  • Writer
    • Alice Wu
  • Stars
    • Joan Chen
    • Michelle Krusiec
    • Lynn Chen
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alice Wu
    • Writer
      • Alice Wu
    • Stars
      • Joan Chen
      • Michelle Krusiec
      • Lynn Chen
    • 98User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Saving Face
    Trailer 1:58
    Watch Saving Face
    The Cast of 'Tigertail' Name Their Favorite Films in Asian Cinema
    Clip 2:56
    Watch The Cast of 'Tigertail' Name Their Favorite Films in Asian Cinema

    Photos27

    Michelle Krusiec in Saving Face (2004)
    Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen in Saving Face (2004)
    Alice Wu in Saving Face (2004)
    Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen in Saving Face (2004)
    Joan Chen in Saving Face (2004)
    Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen in Saving Face (2004)
    Richard Chang and Michelle Krusiec in Saving Face (2004)
    Michelle Krusiec, Lynn Chen, and Alice Wu in Saving Face (2004)
    Joan Chen, Michelle Krusiec, and Ato Essandoh in Saving Face (2004)
    Joan Chen in Saving Face (2004)
    Lynn Chen in Saving Face (2004)
    Alice Wu at an event for Saving Face (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joan Chen
    Joan Chen
    • Hwei-Lan Gao - Ma
    Michelle Krusiec
    Michelle Krusiec
    • Wilhelmina 'Wil' Pang
    Lynn Chen
    Lynn Chen
    • Vivian Shing
    Jin Wang
    • Wai Gung - Grandpa
    Guang Lan Koh
    • Wai Po - Grandma
    Jessica Hecht
    Jessica Hecht
    • Randi - Hospital Co-Worker
    Ato Essandoh
    Ato Essandoh
    • Jay - Neighbor
    David Shih
    David Shih
    • Norman
    Brian Yang
    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
    Richard Chang
    • Stephen
    Hoon Lee
    Hoon Lee
    • Raymond Wong
    Ruth Zhang
    • Mrs. Yao
    Connie Hsia
    • Mrs. Chen
    • Director
      • Alice Wu
    • Writer
      • Alice Wu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Imagine Me & You
    6.7
    Imagine Me & You
    I Can't Think Straight
    6.5
    I Can't Think Straight
    The Half of It
    6.9
    The Half of It
    Kiss Me
    6.8
    Kiss Me
    The World Unseen
    6.5
    The World Unseen
    Lost and Delirious
    6.8
    Lost and Delirious
    My First Summer
    6.7
    My First Summer
    Desert Hearts
    7.1
    Desert Hearts
    Loving Annabelle
    6.3
    Loving Annabelle
    Fingersmith
    7.8
    Fingersmith
    Tell It to the Bees
    6.4
    Tell It to the Bees
    The Miseducation of Cameron Post
    6.6
    The Miseducation of Cameron Post

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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
      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

      Mrs. Shing: [Leaving message on the answering machine] Hello, Viviea? This is your mother. Just calling to say hi. Hope your birthday good. Did Wil show up? Thought you may wanna talk after she leaves. Oh, maybe she's still there? Okay. Bye.

      Wil: Oh, my God. You talked to your mother about us?

      Vivian Shing: Yeah. So?

      Wil: "So"? Does she know we have sex?

      Vivian Shing: [sighs] No, Wil. She thinks we conjugate Latin verbs.

      Wil: Really?

    • Connections
      Featured in Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Forever and a Day
      Written by Marc Anthony Thompson

      Performed by Marc Anthony Thompson

      Published by Skillet Turtles (ASCAP)

    User reviews98

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    lovely romantic comedy with several twists
    I was lucky enough to get into "Saving Face" on its opening night at the AMC on 42nd St. in NY. It was sold out and for good reason! It was a delightful yet thought-provoking romantic comedy with some important social undertones. The portrayal of three generations of Chinese- Americans included a lovely lesbian love story, a pregnant older Ma, and all sorts of complications and funny funny twists. Lots of laughing out loud- and the audience (very diverse) was REALLY into it... I laughed and cried. And you heard it here first-- Lynn Chen, who convincingly played the ballerina role, is a star waiting to happen. She is just gorgeous, a fine actress, and delightful to watch. All the acting is top-notch. I want everyone to see it so we can support interesting and enjoyable independent movies that open our minds just a little bit!
    helpful•46
    7
    • maudebasset
    • May 30, 2005

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Everything That's New on Prime Video in May

    Everything That's New on Prime Video in May

    Freshen up your Watchlist with the latest roster of streaming movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video, featuring old favorites and new movies and series.
    See the full list
    View list
    List

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 24, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Classics (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Mandarin
      • Shanghainese
    • Also known as
      • Рятуючи обличчя
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Destination Films
      • Forensic Films
      • GreeneStreet Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,187,266
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $75,104
      • May 29, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,236,518
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Joan Chen in Saving Face (2004)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Saving Face (2004) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.