The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Source:The Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee, 1993)
I first watched this movie in 2014 and was immediately captivated and touched by everything about the movie. The Wedding Banquet is a masterpiece by Ang Lee which also belongs to the “Father Knows Best” trilogy. The trilogy itself delves into Confucian family on the horns of dilemma.Â
THE SYNOPSIS
The movie follows a Taiwanese man named Wai Tung-Gao, who’s a closeted gay man living with his American boyfriend, Simon. His traditional parents are so eager to find him a wife, hence they decide to sign him up for a dating service. Wai Tung figures out many “escape plans” in order to prevent him from the arranged marriage. He finally pitches the final plan which involves Wei-wei, an aspiring painter who rents one of Wai Tung’s properties. In this plan, Wai Tung, Simon, and Wei-wei decide to tell a lie that Wai-Tung and Wei-wei are dating and planning to get married, thus Wai Tung’s parents won’t be concerned and bother him with the whole marriage thing. However, along the way, something unexpected happens as Wai Tung’s parents decide to visit him in the U.S to see their future “daughter in law”. Then, as you can guess, things start to get out of the hands.Â
Source:The Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee, 1993)
WHY I LOVE THE MOVIE
Ang Lee successfully delivers an honest portrayal of how parents and their children struggle to come to terms with things that happen out of expectations. In my opinion, this movie also serves as a social commentary on a circumstance in which people easily get away with lies in order to defend family honor. Such phenomena are told using effective jokes and heartwarming drama that can make its audience grin widely and shed into tears. Another incredible thing that steals my attention is how Ang Lee wants his audience to remain hopeful throughout the movie by creating the “parents” characters who are willing to listen and accept their son’s homosexuality, instead of disowning him (OOPS, sorry I just gave you a “major” spoiler here).Â
In addition to the heartwarming story, the movie deserves acclaims for its cast ensemble. All actors involved, gave their stellar performances. Winston Chao (as Wai Tung-Gao), Sihung Lung (as Mr. Gao), and May Chin (as Wei-wei) are my favorites since they enchantingly bring vulnerability and humility to their assertive and quite stubborn characters. Gua Ah-Leh who plays Mrs. Gao and Mitchell Lichtenstein who plays Simon also steal my heart with their charming mannerism and radiant smile that they bring into their characters.Â
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH THE MOVIE
The Wedding Banquet is an exquisite, delightful, and heartwarming movie that enables us to contemplate our viewpoints on acceptance, vulnerability, respect, and humility, without being pretentious. If you are looking for a movie that speaks volume about the aforementioned things, then what are you waiting for? Grab your snacks, sit on your couch or lie on your bed, and watch this wonderful movie.Â









