ALICE WU
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB.
USA, 2004. Destination Films, Forensic Films, GreeneStreet Films, Overbrook Entertainment. Screenplay by Alice Wu. Cinematography by Harlan Bosmajian. Produced by James Lassiter, Will Smith, Teddy Zee. Music by Anton Sanko. Production Design by Daniel Ouellette. Costume Design by Jill Newell. Film Editing by Susan Graef, Sabine Hoffman. Toronto International Film Festival 2004.
Family and cultural traditions are thrown to the wind when Chinese-American surgeon Wil (Michelle Krusiec) allows her pregnant mother (a stunning Joan Chen) to live in her apartment when her mother’s refusal to reveal the father of the child gets her kicked out of her suburban community. Wil is now in a quandary, having just begun a relationship with a beautiful dancer (Lynn Chen) and in danger of losing it if she doesn’t come to terms with the clash between her lesbianism and her family’s rigid morality. Alice Wu’s first feature is a bit too long and doesn’t flow comfortably throughout its plot, but the characters are all warm and the performances natural and affecting.
