Go Back to China

This film is quite a surprise family drama that is very relatable for many children of parents working overseas. I liked how they did not shy away from showing the cultural fact that many successful Asian business men do take on many wives and mistresses yet unlike the west it is culturally acceptable to do so. Having Sasha the lead having to deal with all these dynamics was interesting to see. I liked how she was not black and white and while being kind she could also be selfish - that natural character progression is harder to find these days.

The lack of romantic connections was quite a surprise in the film and I must say this was a good thing. Sometimes life does not need to be filled with romance- I think this is what others might have expected. I much preferred this movie over a Crazy Rich Asians where most of the cast was filled with one dimensional characters!

Dispite the lead being good in her role I was quite surprised they choose a Japanese-American woman to play the part of a Chinese-American? Is that not like throwing Asians of all ethnicities into one basket?!

Overall a good Sunday Afternoon watch on some downtime.

I enjoyed this movie.

It was a very believable story too.

Father and daughter relationship Give it a chance. I think you may like this movie.

Ok that's my review.

Sasha is a 20-something graduate of design school, a year earlier, and about all she does is party with her girlfriends and shop for expensive clothes. Her dad, much older (actor was about 80 during filming), is Chinese and runs a toy factory in a smaller Chinese town. When he calls she just ghosts him.

Then one evening faced with a $2000 tab in L. A. on her birthday with friends she is shocked to learn her credit card was no longer valid. Next day her bank accounts have been frozen. Seems dad has cut her off from her trust fund. She can't find a job and rent is due. So in spite of her grave reservations travels to China, if she will work for a year in the factory he will repay her $1Million.

So the story is actually full of surprises, her dad had been a serial philanderer, had several children with different mothers, but is wealthy. He is a hard-driving boss, he doesn't seem to be able to anything not related to the factory. The story is a growing experience for both Sasha and for her dad.

My wife and I watched it at home on Amazon streaming movies. I know many people object to what they see is the politically-incorrect depiction of work in China but hey, it is a fictional story. It didn't bother us.

In the last few years we have seen unprecedented focus and interest for films featuring diverse actors with narratives that are deeply grounded in their ethnic cultures. Despite this trend, the stories that spoke to the Asian American experience were lacking. As it may seem exaggerated at parts, this film provides a much needed perspective into the life of an "Almost-Crazy Rich Asian".

The general formula that this story follows is not novel. The movie starts with Sasha, a spoiled and entitled international student, facing a typical recently graduated student problem - finding a job. Anna Akana does a great job of conveying her character as it made me feel both empathetic and schadenfreude. Finding a job sucks, but damn you deserve it for being so wasteful!

What follows, as you may expect from the title, Sasha goes back to China. Although at times the writing relies on cliché and rather hollow devices to demonstrate the complexity of its characters, for example, that there is more to Sasha than being a brat, the characters felt authentic.

Perhaps intended by the director, or simply decades of acting experience demonstrated by Lynn Chen's nuanced expressions, I definitely felt more attached to Carol (Lynn's character) than Sasha.

What felt unique about the film was its execution. It told a convincing coming-of-age story through the lense of an Asian American. Its contrast and blend of both American and Asian experiences felt real. Watching the roller coaster of Sasha and Carol's relationship, caused by the differences of their values - Asian Americans aren't all alike, was satisfying.

I was disappointed by how the movie chose to expose the root of Richard Ng's character, Teddy, the father. Somethings must be demonstrated rather than discussed over lunch.

Despite its flaws, the movie had plenty of heartwarming moments and twists that kept me entertained and invested. As an Asian Canadian, it was refreshing to see a story that sought to tackle the intricacies of our culture and familial conflicts. I left the theater wanting more. 95 minutes is short!

The materialism of the spoiled Chinese young generation who took everything for granted with the money their parents earned so hard by their own endeavors and sacrifices. This movie is pretty good, sometimes, even felt better than "The Crazy Rich Asians", a movie focused on the Chinese overseas who live in Singapore. This movie is typical in Chinese style, except all the actors speaking in English. The shallow materialism is still very strong, but not overly done as in "The Crazy Rich Asians". The leading actress did a pretty good job. Her transformation and development in her characteristic personality was subtle and convincing. This is a pretty decent movie. Highly recommended.