The Saving Face Film Review

Asian-American marriages such as in-marriages and pan-ethnic marriages make up the majority of marriages for Asian-Americans. (Dhingra and Rodriguez 99) Homosexuality is also expressed in a distinct way for Asians and Asian-Americans. Homosexuality for example is seen clearly in Asian-American/Asian men because unfortunately, the stereotypical depiction is that of an effeminate, subservient man. (Dhingra and Rodriguez 104) Women on the other hand are not seen as homosexual because being a lesbian is seen as being masculine. Since Asian-American/Asian women are seen as very feminine, there is a disconnect with how Asian culture interprets lesbianism. (Dhingra and Rodriguez 105) However, some films like Saving Face, try to show Asian-American lesbians and their struggle with attempting to fulfill family/racial expectations versus being themselves. (Dhingra and Rodriguez 154)

Wil is a Chinese-American who works as a surgeon. Her mother Gao wishes to set her up with a friend's son displaying inter-marriage seen in Asian-American families. However, she falls for one of Gao's mother's friend's daughter. Wil remains closeted for fear of being spurned affecting how affectionate she is with Vivian (Dhingra and Rodriguez 103), Gao's mother is shunned and kicked out of the house for being pregnant out of wedlock. This reveals the need for women to be 'asexual' and only have sex within marriage. It also shows after Gao tries desperately to find a man to father her child, the need for eradication of 'shame'.

While lesbians are supposedly masculine, Vivian is feminine and even gets accepted into a ballet program demonstrating the reality of being gay versus being a stereotype. Although Wil was scared to kiss Vivian at the airport, at the reunion, she does kiss Vivian showing the desire to escape from the cultural norms (Dhingra and Rodriguez 113) and instead live a life she wants, similar to her mom and her lover (pharmacist's son).