A LITTLE DECEPTION AT THE RECEPTION.Ā
Wai-Tung (Winston Chao) hasnāt told his parents that heās gay and living in a relationship in New York; when they come to visit from Taiwan, he tries to convince them that heās marrying Wei-Wei (May Chin) (whoās actually an artist in need of a green card). Ang Leeās best movie before his American breakthrough is at heart a traditional romantic comedyā¦ but there isnāt much that feels clichĆ©d here. Watching the clash between different Taiwanese generations and how Wai-Tungās scheme affects the relationship with his boyfriend Simon is funny, authentic and heartwarming. A lovely cast, and the writers take an actual interest in their characters.
1993-U.S-Taiwan. 108 min. Color. Produced byĀ Ted Hope, Ang Lee, James Schamus. Directed byĀ Ang Lee. Screenplay: Ang Lee, Neil Peng, James Schamus. Cast: Winston Chao (Wai-Tung Gao), May Chin (Wei-Wei Gu), Mitchell Lichtenstein (Simon), Sihung Lung, Ah-Leh Gua, Tien Pien.
Trivia: Chinese title: Xi yan.
Berlin: Golden Bear.
Last word: āThe most difficult scene for me to shoot was the scene in which the bride seduces the groom. It seemed unnatural to me, somehow. I had become so used to Wai Tung wanting Simon, repressing that desire while his parents were there but then acting in a way that is expected of him on the night of the wedding banquet. It was confusing to me. I shot it three times and discarded it three times.ā (Lee, L.A. Times)