Diversity of APAs as the Main Notion of The Wedding Banquet Film - Movie Review Example

Asian Pacific Americans Traveling abroad and visiting different countries may cause significant impediments in realization and comprehension of various cultures. Despite the human similarity, each nation has its individuality, history and experience that at the first sight may be unnoticeable. But further studying of people’s behavior gives opportunity to see peculiar characteristics and habits, observe differences in appearance, understand traditions and compare discrepancies of foreigners’ attitude. It has happened that some nations have unbreakable images that stereotypically are represented in the movies, songs, art et cetera. Hence, for many people Asian and Pacific Islanders look quite identical, having the same traits of character and features. However this assumption is totally fallacious. As any other nation, Asians have diverse representatives of people’s tempers and natures, among which you can find individuals with their own peculiarities, problems and visions. Diversity of APAs is the main notion of such movie as The Wedding Banquet by Ang Lee that tries to show Chinese culture and traditions in a full way. Mentioned film tells a story about young man from China, Wai Tung, who lives in New York in a flat on Manhattan with his boyfriend. Persistent parents of main hero, being unaware of their son’s preferences, have long-awaited intention to marry Wai Tung and see grandchildren. Taking the guy’s destiny in own hands, they enroll him into Taipei’s best club for single people, asking him to fill the required form with description of his imaginary ideal woman. Without a desire to argue with his mother Wai writes her that he wants a wife who is opera singer, speaks several languages and has two PhDs. Being not even interested in opera or physics, he make all that conditions up only to satisfy his mother. However, talking to his lover, Wai Tung admits “You are right. It’s kind of stupid, all these lies. But I’m used to it” (The Wedding Banquet). Later on Simon suggests his boyfriend the plan of fictitious marriage to soothe and suppress assistance of Wai’s parents. It is important to mention that Wei Wei, the girl who rents Wai Tung’s flat and agrees to marry him, represents typical foreigner in America. She has lost her job because of which now she has no money for living and even her rent fee she pays with her paintings. She is afraid to be sent back to Shanghai, because there is no official permission for her to stay in the USA. On the contrast to Wei Wei, Wai Tung is independent and wealthy businessman. He has managed to get accustomed to American way of life and succeeded in ensuring own residence. The image and character of main hero shows the most crucial diversity of Asian and Pacific Islanders that the stated movie attempts to depict. Contrasting Wei Wei and Wai Tung we can see two different destinies and people’s attitudes and views on human problems. They both represent two dissimilar classes, though they have come from the same country and on the same stipulations. The couple consents to go for deception for the sake of own purposes. Wai Tung wants to look like ideal son in his parents’ eyes and the girl needs a Green card. The Wedding Banquet reveals rather extraordinary and unusual topic of Asian and Pacific Islanders’ life. Wai Tung, being always an exemplary son of his parents, turns out to be a homosexual. That is quite untypical situation as for filmmaking about APAs. In most cases Asian people are seemed to be right, regular and proper in any ways. And the stated movie exposes Chinese people in rather untraditional manner. That has been rarely done before. Example of Wai Tung along with unaccomplished fiancé, whom his mother sends before sham marriage and who admits having stealthy liaison with a white boyfriend, shows the inability of Chinese young people to tell their secrets to own parents, because of the fear to let down and disappoint them. Chinese families are accustomed to be considered as strict ones with severe rules and proper deeds, in which the head of the family dictates behavior and makes the most important decisions. However, the existence of unconventional situations, as loving a person of another nationality or race, compels to practise deceit with an aim to save good name of the families. Therefore, in the mentioned film, looking at Mr. and Mrs. Gao, the views can see ordinary Chinese parents that revere old traditions and idea of future generations. This couple appears in earnest and rigorous image, believing in initial importance of family. Hence, Mrs. Gao says “A woman is still a woman. Husbands and children are still the most important to us” (The Wedding Banquet). But Wei Wei, denying that statement, shows the changing in generations’ attitude and comprehension of various values. It seems that life in America manages to take aside girl’s point of view from Chinese old and well-established notions. However, being pregnant, after some consideration Wei Wei decides to raise a child no matter how hard it is going to be. Also she concludes “Maybe there are more important things in life than hiding in America” (The Wedding Banquet). Abruptly girl’s priorities change under specified circumstances that depict the supremacy of having family and children. At the first sight Wai Tung’s parents seem to be very skeptical and severe with own traditions and habits. It is hard to imagine Mr. Gao accepting the idea of his son’s homosexuality. But in the end of the movie the views can see that Mr. Gao is not so stern father as he wishes to look like. In fact he finds out about Wai’s private relationships with a roommate and even thanks Simon for taking care of his son, but asks to keep his awareness in mystery. Mr. Gao must just play a role of strict head of the family meanwhile he manages to understand modern life without any condemnations. The Wedding Banquet shows Chinese as merry and joyful people during the scenes of wedding celebration, when one of the guests says “God, and I thought the Chinese were meek, quite, math weasels” (The Wedding Banquet). One more stereotype breaks, emphasizing the diversity of APAs. Consequently, with a help of this movie views are able to see different sides of Chinese culture, traditions and representatives of Asians, depicting their national habits along with individuality and uniqueness. Works Cited The Wedding Banquet. Dir. Ang Lee. Perf. Winston Chao, May Chin, Mitchell Lichtenstein, Sihung Lung, Ah-Leh Gua. Ang Lee Productions, 1993. Film. Read More