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The romantic comedy, opening in movie theaters
on Wednesday and starring Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina
and newcomer Henry Golding, is the first with an all-Asian
ensemble cast from a major studio in 25 years.
"Fresh Off the Boat" actress Wu plays New York economics
professor Rachel Chu, who flies to Singapore to meet her
boyfriend's family only to discover that it is one of the
wealthiest in the country.
Amid the lavish parties and romantic setbacks, the film
highlights the clash of Western and Asian cultures and the
tension between old-money Chinese families in Singapore and the
nouveau riche.
It is also a love letter to Singapore, as the camera lingers on
the city's modern and traditional architecture, parks, nearby
tropical beaches, street food and music.
"I wanted to reflect that this was a warm place, that it wasn't
a strange alien planet that you are going to, as Asia is often
depicted," said director Jon M. Chu, who was raised in
California by Taiwanese parents and had never previously been to
Singapore.
The cast was drawn from Taiwan, Britain, China, Malaysia, the
Philippines, the United States and Australia, along with
Singapore, where it was filmed.
"It was like a swap meet of experiences of being Asian in
different countries," said Golding, who was born in Malaysia and
raised in Britain.
"Everybody had struggled in some aspect with their identity, so
to be able to share that and come together and strengthen
together, you couldn't even imagine," he said.
Gemma Chan, a London-born actress of Chinese heritage, said that
making the movie had made her re-think her identity.
"When I was younger, as most children do, you just wanted to fit
in. My Barbies had blond hair and blue eyes. I always felt, I'm
different, I wish I wasn't different.
"Now I feel more proud than ever of my Asian heritage and it's
something I can happily embrace," she said.
While the film is unapologetically Asian, even down to a game of
Mahjong and a dumpling-making scene, the filmmakers say its
themes of family, love and the struggle to be accepted are
universal.
"It is a rare movie that is culturally specific, yet for the
world," said actor Ken Jeong.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant)
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