The Joy Luck Club (1993)

One does not have to be Chinese or of Chinese origin to understand, appreciate the film. It simply touches you, no matter what your family background is, where you came from and what language you speak. It is a film of profound sentiments, sentiments between friends, between men and women, mother and daughter and yes, father and daughter, too.I am only sorry that I was not aware of the release of the film and bumped into it by chance only now, 24 years later. Perhaps, I should think that these years have actually enabled me to appreciate it more than 24 years ago when it first came out.Whoever reads the reviews and decides to look for the film should, I'd dare say, can consider himself/herself lucky, as it will make one feels deeper, live more intensely as all lives deserve.

The Joy Luck Club should be condemned, not praised!! These women are sell outs!! First of all, why is the film only about the women? What about the Asian men? There isn't a single leading Asian male character! This film portrays marriage to an Asian man so negatively, while the rich white husbands are portrayed so positively. This is shocking because the Asian men I know are not like this at all. They are much more caring, strong and masculine than this. In fact, I have heard of many white husbands in the news who get drunk and beat or even kill their Asian wives. The Asian men I know are worthy candidates for marriage and are never aggressive toward women.These Asian mothers toiled through sweat, tears and blood, surviving a brutal war to come to America. And what do their daughters do in return? They forget all the hardship their mothers endured and marry the first rich white man they meet!! Instead of working hard for their money like their mothers, they want to be pampered by their rich white husbands and live an easy life of luxury through marriage! These women basically sell their bodies, beautifying themselves according to Western standards of beauty, while trying to sound educated so they can enter upper class society. They basically use their sexuality as a tool to move upward in social class through marriage. This, my friends, is a form of PROSTITUTION!! Whether these women are doing this consciously or subconsciously, they are engaging in prostitution. Is that really all an Asian woman has to offer society?This is an absolute disgrace and an incredible insult to all the real, hard working Asian-Americans in the United States, many who struggle in poverty and have no real voice in society. Any dignified Asian woman should realize that this film is Westernized propaganda, teaching Asian- Americans that white is better, that Asian men are terrible lovers, and to look the other way as their heritage gradually erodes. Tell me, how many objects of Asian cultural heritage can you find in the homes of their white husbands, even after marrying their Asian wives? Can you find even one painting or vase?This film teaches Asian women to scorn their Asian men, even their own fathers, and to learn to "put up" with their mothers, who are an "obstacle" to be dealt with. This film does not empower Asian-Americans. Instead, this film brainwashes them to gradually despise themselves as they develop a crippling inferiority complex and a bitter sense of self- hatred. To make matters worse, The Joy Luck Club portrays the so-called "Asian-American experience" solely through the voices of women, while completely ignoring the male experience. This film is damaging and should be viewed as a negative scar that Asian-Americans must move away from.

The Joy Luck Club is a film about the relationships between Chinese- American women and their Chinese mothers.It has a cast of Asian-American actresses such as Ming-Na,Rosalind Chao,Lauren Tom,France Nuyen,Tamlyn Tomita,Kieu Chinh,Lisa Lu and Tsai Chin. It is based on the novel of the same title by Amy Tan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bass.The film was directed by Wayne Wang.The film takes place in present-day San Francisco, concentrating on a group of late-middle-aged Chinese women. Ever since arriving in the United States after World War II, the women have gathered weekly to play mah-jongg and to tell stories, regaling each other with tales of their children and grandchildren, giving each other a sense of hope and renewal in the midst of poverty and hardship. The Joy Luck Club is made up of four women -- Suyuan, Lindo, Ying Ying, and An Mei. But when Suyuan dies, the three surviving members invite Suyuan's daughter June to take her place. Along with the daughters of the other members -- Waverly, Lena, and Rose -- June is a Chinese-American with only a passing interest in her rich cultural heritage. But through vignettes that switch back and forth in time, the daughters begin to appreciate the struggles of their mothers to start their families in the optimistic promise of the United States.The movie gives refreshing -- and bittersweet -- dimension to the age- old clash between generations.Four different actresses play the aunties in their youth, which sometimes keeps us struggling to keep the stories straight. That we do is a tribute about the miscommunication that separates one generation from another.Also,it is one of the most touching and moving films ever released on screen that it deserves every tear it wrenches from your eyes.Most of all,it is a great adaptation of a best-selling novel.

This film entwines the lives of women and their daughters with masterful expertise. The storyline is profound. The casting and acting is superb. Cinematography and direction are also astounding and capture the lives of these women with realism and compassion. This is my all-time favorite film. It is an emotionally wrenching story in many ways but as story that is relevant to the multi-cultural world we live in. There are complex layers of meaning and social commentary here. We see inside of marriage, family, and traditions that have crossed oceans as well as invisible boundary lines. It handles these sensitive issues deftly yet with implicit insistence that we take notice. It is a film to be treasured.