If love makes people crazy
"Crazy Rich Asians" Part 1 Thoughts after watching the movie "Crazy Rich Asians"
In the summer of 2018, the most popular movie in North America and the fastest cost recovery was "Crazy Rich Asians", a Hollywood movie with an all-Asian cast. At first glance, the title of the film sounds like it is mocking wealthy people, trying to make the audience laugh with its crazy and nonsensical plot. In fact, this is a comedy that talks about Chinese and Western culture, family affection, and love, making people laugh while crying, and laugh while crying.
Rachel Chu, a 28-year-old Chinese university professor who was born and raised in the United States, was invited to Singapore, the country of her boyfriend Nick Yang, to attend his friend's wedding. She discovered that Nick's family is the richest man in Singapore. Rachel not only had to deal with the criticism and jealousy of Yang's family and friends, but also faced Yang's mother Elena's opposition to their relationship. After many twists and turns, the two finally got married when Rachel was on the verge of giving up. This film is adapted from the first part of the 2013 best-selling novel Rich Man Trilogy of the same name. The original author is Kevin Kwan, a Chinese-American writer born in Singapore.
The movie's sales fell beyond the expectations of many Hollywood investors. Even the critics on the "Rotten Tomatoes" website, which has "little good things to say", gave 93% "Good Tomatoes". Many Asian audiences have watched the show many times and even booked the venue to watch, creating a "Crazy Rich Asians" whirlwind in the hot summer.
Hollywood has made so many movies similar to Cinderella and Prince Charming. Why did this movie about Asian rich people create such a warm response?
▲Swan Motoyasu, the original author of "Crazy Rich Asians".
Speak up for Asians—it doesn’t take “hard work” to break into the mainstream
American Hollywood movies have always been dominated by white people. If there are Asian characters in the movies, they are usually played by white people. For example, the neighbor of the heroine in the classic film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a white actor disguised as an Asian. It is said that Accented English. If there are Asian faces, most of them are maids or restaurant employees who play a small role. In the 1970s, Bruce Lee defeated all opponents with his superb kung fu in the movies. In the 1980s, Jackie Chan's kung fu movies and Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in the 1990s were not only blockbusters but also well received at various film festivals.
Asian characters in American movies during this period were all related to kung fu. For example, Mr. Gong Cheng, the master in "Karate Kid" and "Kung Fu Tomcats" were all movies with the theme of kung fu. "Kung Fu" has become a Hollywood stereotype of Asian characters.
In 1993, Hollywood Pictures produced "The Joy Luck Club" with an Asian cast, interpreting the story of four pairs of Chinese immigrant mothers and daughters in North America (the original author is Amy Tan). The relationship between mother and daughter in the story Tangled and sad yet heartwarming and touching, the movie was both a hit and a hit. 25 years later, "Crazy Rich Asians" appeared.
Washington Post reporter Allyson Chiu reported that "They are all Asian actors, and they don't have to work hard" 1. This film breaks away from Hollywood's unspoken rule of "whitening" many movie characters - good stories must be white actors to be successful, and movies with many Asian actors must rely on fighting to attract attention.
"Crazy" breaks the stereotypes of Asian characters in movies - treasure hunt or revenge martial arts plot. The film contains gorgeous and luxurious scenes, exotic scenery and food, touching love stories and family elements, as well as re-arrangements of old Chinese songs. The whole movie-watching experience is like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden. It is very novel but can be seen in the film. See your own story in it.
▲The 1993 "The Joy Luck Club" is a story about four immigrant mother and daughter. The story is twists and turns, sad, but also warm and touching.
Speak out your hidden voice and exude confidence
The United States is known as the "melting pot". Asians who grew up in North America have been looking for their own place and foothold in multiple cultures since childhood. Taking the Chinese as an example, children are immersed in American culture at school, receive the culture and ideas of their hometown instilled by their parents at home, and are expected to inherit Chinese traditions. Among their classmates, they have left behind the stereotype of nerdy immigrants; in the Chinese community, they are said to be bananas that are white on the inside and yellow on the outside; when they return to their parents' hometown, they are positioned as foreigners.
Young Asian audiences identify very much with the character of Rachel in the movie. She is a second-generation immigrant born and raised in the United States, with Americanized education and diversified living and eating habits. The plot of "Crazy" and Rachel's attitude in facing difficulties in the film speak out the hidden voice of the second generation of Asian young people in North America.
At the beginning of the film, the Yang family was refused check-in at a high-end hotel in London and was advised to find a hotel in Chinatown. It revealed that Asians are often discriminated against in countries that emphasize human rights equality, which is difficult for Chinese who have not grown up in a foreign country to understand. Jon M. Chu, the Chinese-American director of this film, said in an interview that he hopes the audience can feel "the confidence exuded on the screen." CAAM reporter Melissa Hung said: "Hopefully this movie will open the door for more stories that must be told." 2 As the heroine Constance Wu said: "This is the beginning of a movement..."
There are many exaggerated and showy scenes in the film, which also aroused unfavorable reactions after the film was released. Of course, not all wealthy Singaporeans are so extravagant and superficial, or pursue fame and fortune. Some people also say that since there are no Asian characters from Central Asia in the film, how can it be considered a film with an all-Asian cast? It can only be regarded as the story of Singaporean Chinese. Some people also feel that the family ties and love mentioned in the plot are not deep enough. However, it is always exciting for an Asian-American Hollywood film production team to have full creative freedom and step outside the box in their own way.
▲Director Zhu Haowei (first from left in the back row) and the actors of "Crazy Rich Asians". As heroine Constance Wu (front row, first from right) said: "I hope this is the beginning of a movement..."
Model responsibility or give freedom?
There are many jokes in the United States about strict Asian parents. For example, Asian parents are not good at expressing love with words and only ask their children if they have eaten? Although it is a joke, it somewhat reflects the truth. Oriental parents often place the responsibility of family inheritance on their children with the idea that there is a long way to go, and regardless of whether the children are interested in the family's ambitions, someone must sacrifice their own ego in order to take care of the overall situation.
This is the case with Elena in the film. She fell in love with Nick's father when they were studying at Cambridge Law School in the UK. For the sake of the Yang family, which has a big business, she dropped out of school to fully support her husband's career, becoming a young lady from a wealthy family who has no personal preferences and only cares about the overall situation. Elena was very dissatisfied with Rachel's mother encouraging her daughter to pursue her dreams. She said, "Chinese parents always try their best to shape their children's future." However, Nick's cousin Astrid in the film also said: " The tradition of Chinese parents is to make their children feel guilty!”
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) The mothers-in-law in the video use this scripture to remind Elena whether her mother will judge her son when he brings his girlfriend back. Give me some discipline? God has given each child different talents and gifts. Parents should do their best to let their children develop their potential according to God's will and be good stewards of the kingdom of God. This is the principle of Christian parent-child education. “The way you should walk” is not the way your parents think is good, but the way God leads. Ask God to give wisdom to you and me as parents, to find a balance between companionship, discipline, words, examples, and space for growth, just like the teachings of the Lord Jesus.
Mara Madrid, a Filipino blogger, discusses Asian parents’ views on parenting in the article “Crazy Rich Asians Reveal the Classic Rights and Wrongs of Asian Parents.” She believes that the strictness of mothers towards their children in movies is classic, but Asian mothers and mothers around the world are all for the best of their children. Although they are nagging and stubborn, in the end they are just "thinking", and in the end they will do it for the sake of their children. Happiness, let go and let young people pursue their dreams. Just like in the movie Elena gave her diamond ring to Nick to propose to Rachel. 3 It can be seen that young people who can be considerate of their parents' love seem to be more likely to take the first step in the balance between parent and child than stubborn parents.
▲Elena learned a life lesson from a mahjong game with Rachel—what is true love.
Let go of your guard in God’s word
The original author of "Crazy Rich Asians" Kwan Ben-an was born in Singapore. His great-grandfather was the founder of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation of Singapore, and his maternal grandfather was the first pastor of the "Tiandao Methodist Church" in Singapore. The stories and scenes in the book are people, things and things he is familiar with.
The theme of the second chapter in the original book is "Bible Study Class in Singapore". In an interview, Guan Bennan said: "Bible study class is an excuse for rich ladies to gossip and show off their wealth." 4 He originally wanted to write a limerick about a Bible study class, but it ended up being a chapter, which later became Crazy Rich Asians.
Such a satirical plot may offend Christians, but it reflects reality to some extent. In some Bible study classes today, perhaps they are not showing off their wealth, but they are comparing who can interpret the Bible and whose snacks are more delicious. It seems difficult for Chinese Christians to break through their defenses and truly open their hearts fearlessly in Christ, exploring and facing the true emotions deep in their hearts through Bible study.
Shauw Chin Capps, a Singaporean-American author, wrote in the "Baptist News Global" website: "In Singapore, Christianity is a religion for the rich, and many large churches face challenges from wealth and greed... "In the movie, Elena reads: "Therefore, if you are truly resurrected with Christ, you should seek things above...Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." In life, beauty, wealth, Culture and traditions will be lost. Elena learns a life lesson in the film: What is true love? But it was taught to her by Rachel, a girl she thought was unworthy. 5
"Now abiding are these three: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) Although movies are entertainment, they are not just entertainment, because everyone in the world yearns for love. , the love contained in the film makes people crazy and touching.
Note:
1. An all Asian Cast and No Martial Arts: Why “Crazy Rich Asian “movie matters https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/04/26/an-all-asian-cast -and-no-martial-arts-why-the-crazy-rich-asians-movie-matters/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.be2e5380c4a2)
2. Director Jon M Chu on “Crazy Rich Asians” https://caamedia.org/blog/2018/08/09/director-jon-m-chu-on-crazy-rich-asians-you-feel-the- confidence-coming-off-of-the-screen/
3. Crazy Rich Asians Shows Off Classic Asian Parenting—Flaws and All http://celebritymom.onemega.com/crazy-rich-asians-classic-asian-parenting/
4. Kevin Kwan about His Most Memorable Moment on Set https://www.theurbanlist.com/brisbane/a-list/we-chat-inspiration-wealth-with-the-author-of-crazy-rich-asians
5. Cultural divides: 'Crazy Rich Asians' and my experience as an Asian American Christian
https://baptistnews.com/article/author/shauw-chin-capps/#.W6hJantKjIU
Wu Xinhui is the editor of the cultural unit of this magazine. I like watching movies, traveling and food. Serving young people in the church, I hope to bring the culture of heaven into daily life and live out the true faith. She lives in the east, west and central parts of the United States with her husband, three sons and daughters respectively.