By Ada Tseng and Brian Hu

Asia Pacific Arts watches Dim Sum Funeral, so you don't have to.

Dim Sum Funeral
directed by Anna Chi, written by Donald Martin

Summary:

Dim Sum Funeral describes the life of four very Americanized children who fled their Chinese "Dragon Lady" mother in the 2000s. The film focuses on the deceased mother's place in the broken family, in which the children recount stories of the past and lament the barriers that exist between the siblings. (Source: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The-Joy-Luck-Club.id-39.html) In Dim Sum Funeral, the characters reconcile their Chinese cultural heritage with their emerging sense of themselves as Americans. Each revelation explores the many forms of adversity that children face in the physical and emotional struggle in the search for one's own, personal voice. (Source: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The-Woman-Warrior.id-162.html)

Biography:

Anna Chi (Director)
A very, very nice lady

Donald Martin (Screenwriter/Executive Producer)
"Donald [Martin] loves Asian culture and cuisine; he is married to an Asian; his two dogs are Asian; and he firmly believes that, in a previous life, he was Chinese." (Source: Dim Sum Funeral press notes)

Character List:

Alexander Xiao (Russell Wong): the Xiao family's only son.

Meimei Xiao (Steph Song): the youngest sister they didn't bother to give a real name.

Dede (Bai Ling): A lesbian. She likes girls.

Cindy Xiao (Kelly Hu): wife of Alexander.

Viola Gruber (Talia Shire): Mrs. Xiao's caregiver.

Elizabeth Xiao (Julia Nickson): the eldest daughter

Victoria Xiao (Francoise Yip): the middle daughter

Chow Lin (Chang Tseng): Mrs. Xiao's old friend, arguably the only good character in the film.

Mrs. Xiao (Lisa Lu): the dead mother

Critical Essays:

Hollywood Reporter: "[Russell] Wong involves us in his character's conflicts." - Stephen Farber

Screen Daily: "The cast looks very uncomfortable at all the wrong moments." - Fionnuala Halligan

Asia Pacific Arts: "There's a twist towards the end, but by then you'll wish the movie was over." - William Hong

Frustrated blogger: "fkllllllllllllllllllllljjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjkkkkk" - M.D. Caigoy

Shameless liar whose quote is used on all the Dim Sum Funeral promotional fliers: "This could be the next SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE." - Amy Stoody, KNX 1070 News Radio, Los Angeles 

Study and Homework Help

Glossary:

Chinese: [chahy-neez, -nees]
noun, plural -nese, adjective

-noun
1. the standard language of China; a group of languages of the Sino-Tibetan family, including standard Chinese and most of the other languages of China; Mandarin; Cantonese.
Ex. Alex: But we're American.
Victoria: We don't even speak Chinese!

-adj
2. of or pertaining to China, its inhabitants, or one of their languages.
Ex. Son: Grandma was a total bitch.
Victoria: Well, she was... Chinese.

3. of or pertaining to CRAZY PEOPLE
Ex: Elizabeth: Congratulations. Very dramatic. Very Chinese.

Essay Topics and Review Questions:

1. When the horny monk tells us that "dim sum" means "touch the heart," how do the lesbians who are trying to acquire his sperm react? What does their reaction tell us about the power of food to heal the disintegration of the traditional Chinese family?

2. The mother in Dim Sum Funeral is referred to as both a "dragon lady" and a "fucking bitch." Define each term, then compare and constrast their meanings, citing specific scenes in the film. You may only use the phrase "She's just Chinese" twice in your essay.

3. When the Xiao family exit their luxurious mansion and enter the spacious grassy yard to get in touch with the "common people" by mimicking their tai chi moves, why is the audience compelled to laugh uncontrollably?

4. In the tender scene where the three oldest siblings kneel before their mother's altar, Alex grabs the hands of his two sisters on each side of him. Discuss the acting of the scene, in terms of the search for human connection in an age of cyberspace and virtual reality. You may also discuss the acting in terms of Tu Wei-ming's conception of the "living tree" of Chinese diaspora. You may also discuss the acting in terms of the formation of multiethnic solidarity, with emphasis on corporeal tactility.

5. Recently, MTV Iggy interviewed Bai Ling about her self-created book and film entitled Nipples, based on oversized parts of her own body. How is Dim Sum Funeral utilizing Bai Ling's public persona when it casts her as the most normal character in the film?

6. How is Dim Sum Funeral appropriating Kelly Hu's star persona as killer with the deadly fingernails in X-Men 2, when she "lashes out" against her mother-in-law?

7. Is Russell Wong only compelling when holding a sword or watermelon?

8. After Bai Ling's character recieves an emergency phone call, the family ponders her abrupt exit: "I think Dede did the right thing. Going back to her brother." Did they mean "Oh right, if I weren't such a spoiled rich kid and my brother had a heart attack, maybe I would try to help him too..."?

9. At the end of the film, the music swirls as the camera pans from the newborn baby, to the pregnant sister, to the 13-year-old granddaughter. Were we supposed to wonder (or hope) that the granddaughter was pregnant as well?

Quote Analysis:

Dede: I believe all of us are connected, even without realizing it. We are all ingredients in a wonderful meal.
Chow Lin: I believe you're stoned.
Dede: I believe I'm in love

Monk: It's not about death. It's about celebrating life. And then maybe we can all have dim sum together. You know what the literal meaning of dim sum is? It means "touch the heart."

Elizabeth: Congratulations. Very dramatic. Very Chinese.

Alex: She's not your mother. She's my mother. She's our mother. Got that?

Daughter: Mom, I don't want you to die.
Mother: Neither do I.

Elizabeth: Things aren't so black and white.
Victoria: No, they aren't.
Elizabeth: Saving face?
Victoria: Saving face.
Elizabeth: I hate that expression.
Victoria: Me too.
Victoria: It's so Chinese.
Elizabeth: We are Chinese.
Victoria: Yes, we are.
 

All quotes were transcribed furiously during a dark press screening. Accuracy was attempted but is not guaranteed.

For the professional performances of these gems of dialogue, check out the Dim Sum Funeral trailer here. The film is out in limited release on June 12th.

Published: Friday, June 5, 2009