Saving Face

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Saving Face ★★½ 2004 (R)

Director/writer Alice Wu's debut effort adeptly explores some familiar, and not so familiar, mother/daughter themes with a ChineseAmerican backdrop. Ma (Chen) is disappointed that her upandcoming surgeon daughter, Wilhelmina (Krusiec), or Wil, isn't married yet as Ma is in denial over Wil's lesbianism. Just when Wil begins a hot, new, and stillcloseted romance, the 48yearold Ma (who has lived with her parents since her husband died, as is custom) moves in after being kicked out once her pregnancy by an unnamed man is revealed, which forces the pair to confront their issues. 90m/C DVD . US Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen, Li Zhiyu, Shen Gung Lan, Jessica Hecht, Ato Essandoh; D: Alice Wu; W: Alice Wu; C: Harlan Bosmajian; M: Anton Sanko.