Saving Face (2004)

No offence to lesbian movies with white protagonists (notable examples include Carol and Imagine Me and You) but Saving Face was the representation that my soul had been craving. Not to say that those other movies were terrible, but they just seemed so far removed from anything that I had ever known, or even imagined, that I just couldn't relate to them beyond the gay context. And that's why even as I respected them, I couldn't really enjoy them or see myself coming back to them. It made me feel like I was missing out on something, because these movies were widely applauded and celebrated on the Internet, within the gay and film communities alike. 

But Saving Face- my god, what an experience. First of all, it's directed by a woman, and that makes all the difference in my opinion. The direction, the cinematography, the acting, the sets, the soundtrack, everything just came together to create one of the most perfect movies that I have ever seen. If that sounds like an exaggeration, I want to assure you that it isn't. I paused the movie around midway to text my friends this- "MY GAY HEART IS SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS". It still is, honestly. Even before it got over, I felt like going back and watching it for the first time all over again, and I can't remember the last time I felt this way about a movie. And when it got over, I was sobbing but also smiling, and gently thanking Ms. Alice Wu for blessing us with this masterpiece. 

The best part of this movie, according to me, was that the sub-plot involving Wil's mother was just as exciting and liberating as the main plot about the love affair between Wil (a medical resident) and Vivian (a ballet dancer). The poignant yet realistic way with which the movie handled double/triple oppression in minority communities- what it means to be female and queer within an already constricted space- was another strong point. The movie also addressed anti-black racism that is pretty common to most Asian communities, and for that I wanted to give the writers an extra tight hug. Aahh, this movie will MAKE you want to be a better person. It'll make you want to own up to your self, and also, OWN yourself. The cheesiness of the movie was just right- not too much that it stirred up mild lactose intolerance, but still enough to melt your heart and make you shed tears of joy. Also, the shots of New York City were amazing- usually such shots bore me to death, but here, they fit in so perfectly with everything else that was going on. The aesthetics and fashion were A1, and the soundtrack of the movie was so perfectly early 2000s. To sum up, every little production detail blended with the narrative brilliantly, and made the movie feel even more coherent (and wonderful).

Let me now address the movie's hot take on that (in)famous scene from The Graduate (which one can see on the film's poster): it was stupendous. It added yet another layer to the movie, and was done at the right time with the right characters. Honestly, I feel as if I have been cleansed (from having to watch The Graduate in the first place, let me be clear). The depth, the poetry, the ART! Too good. If the rest of the movie wasn't enough to convince me of Ms. Wu's genius, this scene definitely clinched the deal.

Apparently, haters and losers called it "cute" (in a derogatory sense of course but WHAT IS WRONG WITH BEING CUTE? CUTE DOES NOT EQUAL VAPID YOU MORONS) and "predictable" (yeah sure, the movies y'all love about a man up against the world ARE SO NOT PREDICTABLE). To them I say: you hate seeing women happy. That's it. "Good" female performances are not just where the woman suffers inordinately, and yet, "displays indomitable courage and strength", especially when it comes to non-white characters. Repeat after me- NON WHITE WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. WE ARE ALLOWED TO SEE OURSELVES HAPPY AND WHOLESOME AND THRIVING ON SCREEN. ITS THE CRITICS WHO NEED TO CATCH UP AND STOP BEING SO BORING. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.

In conclusion, I urge you to go watch this movie. It's so sweet and simple, but also radical in its own way. It made me feel seen, but in the best way possible. More importantly, it made me feel like maybe, just maybe, things will work out for the best in the end, and who doesn't need that sentiment in the year 2020? 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aasai (1995)

My only regret is that I wish I knew absolutely nothing about this movie before watching it. I know I'm 26 years too late to the party, but honestly, not knowing the basic premise would have made things even more scary and messed up, not that there wasn't enough of those sentiments already. But to watch it unfold like the psychotic drama it was on the big screen, while innocently expecting another cute sweet love story featuring foetus Thala... I would give anything to have that experience. I know we love poking fun at Prakash Raj for being the evergreen villain, but it takes an Aasai for one to truly understand why he's earned that reputation. He really brings to life the evil but powerful psychopath who can manipulate people and situations to get what he wants, and I swear I was shaking a little when the movie ended because he is just that good at driving the point home. That's the thing about well-written thrillers- they work excellently as horror movies because you
Read more

Shyam Singha Roy (2021)

There is honestly nothing more annoying than a movie that has flashes of being a good movie, but turns out to be a bad one anyway. Not only have you watched a bad film, but you have also been cheated of all hope and it's exhausting, to say the least.  Also, when this movie is a first day first show, you can't help but feel betrayed. Full "I trusted you!" moment only.  The first half was so tedious to sit through, I genuinely thought of leaving after the interval at one point. I didn't though, because Sai Pallavi only made her entry in the second half, and let's face it, she was the real reason for me to go watch it anyway. I mean, Nani was a huge pull factor too, but after Tuck Jagadish (2021) and V (2020), I was a little wary of trusting this man completely. As I should, because look what he made me sit through... again! (I swear to god, if the Nazriya film isn't good, I just might never watch a Nani movie ever again). Back to Pallu though- she is the onl
Read more

Pokiri (2006)

Sairam, thank god I had forgotten the "twist", despite having seen Bhai's Wanted (2009) when it came out. Not only was I majorly zoned out (so much that I don't even remember for sure if I slept for sometime in the middle) but I have also actively tried to erase all memories of it. Which is why I was shocked enough to legit scream when the big twist came along.  From what I have heard about Pokiri , it sounds like some kind of cultural reset. And going by that, I must say that it totally lived up to that hype. Prince Mahesh seems to be at the peak of his career, and it's a performance that is memorable in more ways than one- he really shines through as the cool, stylish hero who outsmarts villains and beats them up. Of course, he needs a solid story and some killer dialogues as well, both of which are amply present here. I loved how understated his commitment dialogue was, especially in comparison to Bhai's exaggeration, the memory of which still gives me war
Read more