Jayne Film Reviews Asian-American / Contemporary / Friday Film Review / m/m / marriage-of-convenience 19 Comments. Wai-Tung is gay, and he hasn't told his Taiwanese parents. The Wedding Banquet (1993) is an altogether subtler film than Pushing Hands (which, despite enjoying some success in Asian markets did not … At the end of the film, I was a little surprised how much I cared for them. "The Wedding Banquet" is not a particularly slick film; the plot construction feels contrived, and the acting of the two younger men is somewhat self-conscious, although the parents are magnificent. My mother on the other hand is very sentimental. Movie Summary EDIT. I suppose The Wedding Banquet could be considered a romantic comedy. Funny, moving and significant, one of Ang Lee's wonderful starts. I really loved this film, I knew nothing about it before I saw it and so was really surprised. But he's afraid to tell her or his father why he is not interested. But at last, The Wedding Banquet becomes surprisingly satisfying, as it reaches its humane and sweet final course. I think it portrays the gay person as a complete person, with the difficult challenges but also the comical madness a person who lives a 'minority' lifestyle (gay and in an cross cultural and racial relationship). All of the performances are excellent in this picture. "The Wedding Banquet" is being presented as a zany comedy, complete with promotional fortune cookie giveaways in theater lobbies. Taiwanese mothers always care for their son so much that they literally do everything for their son, just like how Wai-Tung's mother sets up a blind date for him. The website's critical consensus reads, "Ang Lee's funny and ultimately poignant comedy of manners reveals the filmmaker's skill across genres." Wei-Wei is persuaded to go along. What it lacks utterly is a believable script. LONG before Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee tread the very tempestuous waters of gay relationships, this one set in the contemporary US of the 1990s. The Wedding Banquet is one of the best gay themed movie I have watched nevertheless with its truthful (maybe slightly exaggerated for today's world) portrayal Chinese family values and traditions as … However, as I grow older, I watched it again and I realized what a masterpiece that Ang Lee had accomplished. It's a little similar to the movie "Threesome" without the sex. It does not matter if you are acquainted with Ang Lee's work. "The Wedding Banquet" is not a particularly slick film; the plot construction feels contrived, and the acting of the two younger men is somewhat self-conscious, although the parents are magnificent. The protagonist, Wai Tung, acts as the essence of the struggle between the expectations of conservative tradition and the self-honesty that his homosexuality and bi-cultural thinking demand. At that time, it seemed to have been breaking ground for tolerance from the straight world toward gays, in general. | Through lying to others, and lying to himself, he becomes spiteful and distanced from loved ones like his parents and lover Simon. Based on the true story of one of his friends in the first half of the film, Lee and co-writer/producer James Schamus take the story through a few smiles onto the screen. Western people maybe can not experience the impotent rejection of young Chinese toward the tumultuous Chinese wedding customs, or understand how devout the filial piety stands in the spirits of every Chinese people. Culture plays into unsaid motivation for each character's actions and decisions throughout the movie. The Wedding Banquet illustrates, not only the lies and heartache that goes into forcing a family group to look like it's "supposed" to rather than what it is, but also the changing climate of society where acceptance of alternative family structures makes for more happiness than adhering to "tradition" under the erroneous belief that "tradition" has always been so, therefore it's the best way ever, did. Acceptance is the underlying theme of this movie, which I recently watched for the second time. For Wei-Wei (May Chin), the pretend marriage with Wai-Tung makes good sense, but is also painful, because she has a crush on him and would like to be married to him for real. It touches on many issues/themes which have never been combined before in one movie: Taiwanese Americans vs. Chinese Americans, Asian American families, old school parents vs. younger generation(s), multi-racial couples, gay couples, gay Asian Americans, immigrants, pride, family values and love. Unfortunately, Wai-Tung's parents announce that they will be visiting New York to see his new bride and attend the wedding. Trivia, ... More Info About This Movie. The premise is about an interracial, gay couple living in New York City. Wedding package perks vary across the different wedding banquet venues. Ang Lee's breakthrough film, The Wedding Banquet puts a different, multicultural spin on family and romantic comedy with winning results. At the very outset, it's quite clear what that is. the expectations of his culture) of a heterosexual marriage and 'normal' life. To him everything has to be done straight and upright. maybe only Chinese can know why Mrs. GAO burst into tears when she heard the engine roaring of the car carrying her son and pregnant daughter-in-law, and why Mr. GAO gave a red-paper-pack of money as a birthday gift to "his another son" Simon after attacked by apoplexy which cause by knowing his son a gay man, and still asked Simon to assist himself in pretending unaware of anything. The father and mother (Sihung Lung and Ah-Leh Gua) arrive with shining eyes, but cannot fail to sense a certain lack of sincerity between the loving couple. Heterosexual viewers unaccustomed to gay-themed dramas may find this early Ang Lee film palatable. I totally disagree with one of the messages that it was unsympathetic to the gay community. Ang Lee with infinite wisdom seems to be saving the best part of this film for last. The Wedding Banquet was released in 1993 and has generally received very positive reviews. Overall, Wai Tung struggles with his desire to fulfill his parent's wishes (i.e. In despair she plans to return to China. What ensues is a lavish banquet for the fraudulent marriage with all the friends and relatives attending. A wedding by a justice of the peace does not match their vision of a suitable ceremony. Performances by the Asian players are fine, but big, bland American Mitchell Lichtenstein seems out of his element. Their culture has been slowly instilled in them and often seemed to fill the stereotype of blindly traditional Asian parents. How many of the characters' motivations can be explained by culture? This is the earliest film from the respected and great Taiwanese director Ang Lee that seems to be available in the U.K - even then it seems only on VHS or as a Korean import (which is how I got mine.). What makes the film work is the underlying validity of the story, the way the filmmakers don't simply go for melodrama and laughs, but pay these characters their due. it can be separated into 2 parts .the preceding one is full of humor and unrolls the story calmly but not laggardly ,and the latter one would make you heart heavy but without losing hope. But the movie also has a warm heart, and by the end somehow manages to become very moving. My father, very much like Wai-Tung's, is a very serious person. To the degree that one can fashion a life that is completely satisfying, Wai-Tung believes he has done so. He's annoyed with his mother's unwelcome attempts to match him with someone, so she can have what she wants: a grandchild. The Wedding Banquet is an excellent study in sexual orientation and freedom of choice within the context of social mores, traditional values and parental expectations. It reminded me the argentinian way, first is the family, then you. I loved this film - have seen it twice. The Wedding Banquet received mostly positive reviews; on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 96% approval rating based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. Mom and Dad catch the first 747 out of Taipei, and the caper goes from there. Write A Review. The man tries to hide being gay when his parents visit from out of the country. The mother is the first to disprove this stereotype, with the father following at the end of the movie. As I am growing adult, I am able to understand it more. But then, in the end, I realized who the cruel character was… Watch it, and you'll see what I mean. Lee's work is known for its emotional charge, which critics believe is responsible for his success in offsetting cultural barriers and achieving international recognition.Lee's earlier films, such as The Wedding Banquet, Pushing Hands, and Eat Drink Man Woman explored the relationships and conflicts between tradition and modernity, Eastern and Western. Movie Review: “The Wedding Banquet” October 14, 2008 February 10, 2011 Emma Leave a comment Director Ang Lee’s films are very impressive- both in his native Mandarin Chinese and English- including Eat Drink Man Woman , Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Sense and Sensibility , … And the actors, especially Winston Chao as Wai-Tung, have a curious fatalism about them, as if their characters are resigned to the worst. Asian gay man, living in New York with his lover, pretends to be both straight and engaged to appease his Old World parents, who travel from their homeland to attend their son's "wedding". 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