Wedding Banquet (The)
Original Title
Xi yan- Director: Ang Lee
- Writer: Ang Lee; Neil Peng
- Producer: Dolly Hall; Ted Hope
CGiii Comment
It received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and, frankly, it doesn't merit such an accolade - it must have been a particularly thin year.
It's a familiar story - too familiar, almost every American-Chinese gay-themed film is exactly the same...hiding their sexuality from the disapproving parents.
Chao's acting is terrible.
A few others manage to deliver performances that are credible and moving.
This is not a bad movie - it is a little amateurish and forced...but, there are some lovely sentiments that will either have you reach for a tissue or a bucket...to vomit into.
It serves to show how a multi-Oscar-winning director can evolve from such humble beginnings.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Simon and Wei-Tung are a gay couple living together in Manhattan. To defer the suspicions of Wei-Tung's parents, Simon suggests a marriage of convenience between Wei-Tung and Wei-Wei, an immigrant in need of a green card. When Wei-Tung's parents come to America for the wedding, they insist upon an elaborate banquet, resulting in several complications.
Cast & Characters
Dion Birney as Andrew;
Jeanne Kuo Chang as Wai-Tung's Secretary;
Winston Chao as Wai-Tung Gao;
Paul Chen as Guest;
May Chin as Wei-Wei;
Chung-Wei Chou as Chef;
Yun Chung as Guest;
Ho-Mean Fu as Guest;
Michael Gaston as Justice of the Peace;
Ya-lei Kuei as Mrs. Gao;
Jeffrey Howard as Street Musician;
Theresa Hou as Female Cashier;
Yung-Teh Hsu as Bob Law,
Wai-Tung's Old Friend;
Jean Hu as Guest;
Albert Huang as Guest