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Face (2002)
Released By: Indican Pictures   Rating: Not Rated   In Theaters: 10/12/2004
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Studio: Indican Pictures
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: N/A
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.indicanpictures.com/
Theatrical Release: 10/12/2004
Home Video Release: 1/31/2006
Cast: Treach, Bai Ling, Chinh Kieu
Published ID: 501618
UPC: 825284200171,
Plot: Three generations of Chinese-American women struggle to reconcile tradition and family with their own needs and desires in this independent drama from first-time director Bertha Bay-Sa Pan. In 1977, Kim (Bai Ling) is an intelligent and headstrong Asian-American, whose mother (Kieu Chinh) is eager to see married off to an eligible man as soon as possible. Kim isn't interested in settling down just yet, and is dating a bright but struggling law student, Willie (Ken Leung). Kim is making some extra money by tutoring Daniel (Will Yun Lee), a handsome but irresponsible boy from a wealthy family. Daniel seduces Kim one evening after she's had an argument with Willie, and while she has no interest in seeing Daniel again, she soon discovers that she's pregnant with his child, and both her mother and Daniel's parents insist that they marry. It doesn't take long for Kim to realize that she and Daniel don't care much for one another, and Kim decides to leave America for Singapore, leaving her baby daughter Genie in mother's care. Two decades later, grown-up Genie (Kristy Wu) is even more rebellious than her mother, and while Genie pays a modicum of lip service to her grandmother, she's no more interested in settling down with a nice Chinese boy than Kim was. Genie has been dating Michael (Treach), an African-American hip-hop musician; Michael is eager to make their relationship more permanent, but Genie isn't so sure, and her grandmother has no idea what to make of Genie's new beau. When Kim arrives on one of her infrequent visits, the three generations of this family find themselves struggling to find a common ground. Face was screened in competition at {~the 2002 Sundance Film Festival}. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Surprisingly good movie
Added 11/25/2007

I ran across this movie channel surfing and was quickly swept in. It's a little of The Joy Luck Club meets Guess who's coming to dinner!
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
FACE...
Added 4/13/2007

I stumbled onto this movie one weekend - I got my copy 10 days later. For me, the clashing/merging of Asian and African-American cultures was an interesting juxtaposition. I recommend the movie - it's a little different...Five stars...
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
The Type of Movie that Perpetuate Misunderstanding of Asian Culture!!!
Added 9/12/2006

Like Joy Luck Club, this sort of movie misportray a lot of things about Chinese people. As a Chinese-American, I find these films offensive: Asian men are being portrayed as male-chauvinistic and uncaring, whereas American men are portrayed as the women's saviors!! How racist can this movie be!!
Also, Asian women do not wear long-Chinese dresses at home all the times. These dresses are reserved for ceremonies such as marriage.

For people who are really interested in understanding the treatment of gender in Asian culture, I recommend foreign films made in Asia.

5 out of 9 people found this helpful.
All Fired Up
Added 5/10/2006

Mothers/Daughters...Daughters/Mothers: no matter what country, what city, what culture there are always issues, disputes and of course the ritual rite of passage of breaking the apron strings.
In "Face" all of these issues are even more convoluted because into the mix we have a Grandmother (the wonderful Kieu Chinh so good in "Joy Luck Club"), the particular restrictions of the Chinese culture, an African-American boyfriend (Treach as Michael) and a daughter Genie (Kristy Wu), who was deserted at a young age by her career obsessed Mother (Bai Ling): who returns from Hong Kong with the hopes to re-connect with her daughter.
Particularly memorable here is the romance between Michael and Genie which flips the usual man/woman relationship on its head by having Michael,a Club DJ, as the more committed, the more willing of the two to declare his emotions and as portrayed by Treach, an unusual and persuasive mix of in your face machismo and hearts and flowers valentine card.
Director and co-writer, Bertha Bay- Sa Pan obviously knows this terrain well and she empowers all of these women, but particularly Genie with a quick wit, horse sense and a fiery, impassioned intelligence.
"Face" is about how we are perceived and limited because of what is on our exterior: imprinted on our face by way of our heritage. Bertha Bay-San Pa spends an hour and a half blasting those stereotypical thoughts and attitudes into the stratosphere once and for all.

3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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