My American Vacation

Heartwarming "female" family film which shows diversity, yet also sameness, of 3 generations of an Asian/Asian American family. Although Dennis Dun excellently plays the good-natured, accommodating son-in-law to the compelling Tsai Chin, the film focuses on the familial relationships between the women - grandmother, daughters/sisters & granddaughter on a trip in an RV through "America." The wonderful cameos of established Asian American character actresses, most notably Beulah Quo, as the 3 friends of the grandmothers congratulating, then anxiously perusing the postcards from, their friend on her trip to "America", gives the film a flavor that touches the heart and warms the soul. Conflicts between and ever-changing emotional states of the characters hit true if one is familiar with Asian American culture, as well as dealing with universal situations, such as that sister rivalry & that of the older daughter Ming Yee's divorce from her spouse & justifying same to her young daughter (and the grandmother's efforts not to further strain the father-daughter relationship by trying to come to a compromise), which holds true in any culture. This is a "must-see" film for any Asian or Pan-Asian, but is also a very universal-themed film that any non-Asian will understand. Music score & cinematography adds a poetic touch to the film. An independent film, not one made to cater to the masses strictly for a profit - it tells a true story and would be appreciated by any true film lover. GO SEE IT!

This film is a heartwarming "female" family film which shows the diversity, yet also the sameness, of 3 generations of an Asian/Asian American family. Although Dennis Dun excellently plays the good-natured, accommodating son-in-law to the compelling Tsai Chin, the film focuses on the familial relationships between the women - grandmother, daughters/sisters & granddaughter on a trip in an RV through "America." The wonderful cameos of established Asian American character actresses, most notably Beulah Quo, as the 3 friends of the grandmothers congratulating, then anxiously perusing the postcards from their friend on her trip to "America", gives the film a flavor that touches the heart and warms the soul. The conflicts between and ever-changing emotional states of the characters hit true if one is familiar with Asian American culture, as well as dealing with universal situations, such as that sister rivalry & that of the older daughter Ming Yee's divorce from her spouse & justifying same to her young daughter (and the grandmother's efforts not to further strain the father-daughter relationship by trying to come to a compromise), which holds true in any culture. This is a "must-see" film for any Asian or Pan-Asian, but is also a very universal-themed film that any non-Asian will understand. This is an independent film, not one made to cater to the masses strictly for a profit - it tells a true story and would be appreciated by any true film lover. GO SEE IT!

I totally enjoyed this vacation captured by filmmaker VV Hsu. A film about three generations of women with mother played by Tsai Chin (whom I loved in the Joy Luck Club)coming from China to take a real "American Vacation" with two sibling sisters and a 7-year old granddaughter as well as one lonely 'husband' in the cramped quarters of an RV - you can only imagine some of the conflicts that arise.

The complex and interesting relationship between these three generations of women as well as the side-show relationship of the two sisters cuts across all ethnic lines and this could be any family on a vacation - we can all relate to these relationships. And these women really kick up a storm in this movie.

I especially enjoyed some of the quiet moments of the trips as each would go off by themselves to capture private moments. At the end of this film I truly felt as if I too had been on a vacation.

And the post cards and letters that Tsai Chin's character wrote to her friends back in China about the successes of her family (in direct contrast to what was actually happening) was hilarious. It was especially wonderful to see one of her friends in China played by talented actress Beulah Quo - she radiates her charm in this cameo role and brings the friends alive in their letters from their friend from America.

There are so few films that address matters of the heart and things that matter. This one moved me to those deep soft places in your heart that you keep hidden to the world. When you see this film it takes us to our own families with our lost dreams, jealousies and hidden desires and helps us to seek our own hidden treasures - you suddenly feel your heart wild and alive again.

When you feel you really need time out - need a vacation, watch My American Vacation the scenes are beautiful and Hsu captures the mood of vacationing and seeing the countryside in an RV - you will feel you have been on a majestic and beautiful trip on the inside as well as on the outside!

i am truly delighted that vv dachin hsu brought to screen 'my american vacation.' i am familiar with other works by the actors and the music director. the film was well paced at 1.5 hrs. wonderfully entertaining because i have experienced a very similar vacation so i laughed through half the film. beulah quo, tsai chin, dennis dun, roger fan, sasha hsuczyk, kim miyori, deborah nishimura - the actors 'fit' their roles perfectly. joel iwataki's music was truly special and gave the film 'magic.' the overall energy of the film was so embracing i felt like part of the vacation. i recommend it to all who just want to be wonderfully entertained by three generations of family, from two continents, vacationing together in a very very small space.

In a rare opportunity for the entire family to spend the first time together in a long while, a grandmother, her two daughters, joined by their families, take a motor home trip in the Rockies. This wizened Chinese grandmother (played by Tsai Chin, who was the original Suzy Wong in the London West End world premiere of "The World Of Suzy Wong"), is replete with the calming influences of eastern meditative arts and cleverly finds subtle ways to get through to her feuding Chinese-American daughters, even when counsel and reprimand fail. This film, which received positive reviews at the film festivals, is rich with inspiring open country cinematography and an abundance of running waters. The scenes of this comedy/drama are pleasantly enhanced with a moving sound track. The movie subtly ends the same way it begins, with Grandma performing her beloved Tai Chi. Only this time she is doing it with her daughters.