Face

A small plane passes through a blue sky at the beginning of Face; the jet a symbol of freedom, travel, and escape. The story unfolds between three generations of women in the Chinese community of New York City. Genie, a strong-willed and beautiful young woman is being raised by her grandmother. She tries to honor her grandmother's wishes, but the contemporary culture of the city has the lure of a siren. In this way, Genie echoes her own mother, whose arrival from Hong Kong is announced as an event. The expectations of Chinese culture become sharply delineated for Genie when she finds love outside of the Chinese community. Winsome and intrepid, Genie must choose her loyalties. Unflinchingly, Face portrays the vibrancy of New York as the three women make sense of their relationships to one another. A truthful portrayal of family tensions and race relations, the story line of Face is both taut and charming.

I did not expect it to but "Face" affected me quite deeply. Generally, I find myself choosing genres with less dialog and less emotional content. I am more a hardcore action / adventure fan, loving Sci-Fi or the occasional documentary or foreign film. I gave face a chance when a friend recommended it to me as a true piece of New York and almost too gritty for Lifetime Net. The films' angle inside of real family dysfunction was a surprise peek in the mirror for me. Unlike the family in the film, I am a second generation American male of an average Russian Jewish family however, my story seems all too congruent with that of the lead character in "Face". My first viewing of this movie was really a lot much more than I knew I was signing on for but I felt a cathartic sense or acknowledgment by the third time. You wont find me in the drama section of the video store not because I'm too scared to get deep but because it is only a diamond that can bring it out in me.

I loved this movie!! It is poignant, moving, well-directed, well-written and beautifully acted. Anyone dealing with family issues will appreciate seeing a family of three generations of women struggling with and learning to overcome their own demons.

Genie (Kristy Wu), a Chinese American teenager, having been abandoned at birth by her mother, Kim (Bai Ling), is being raised in New York by her traditional and yet adoring grandmother (Kieuh Chinh). Genie's life and existence is challenged when she meets a warm and gorgeous DJ named Michael (Treach). The fact that he's African American threatens to come between her and her grandmother. A culture clash ensues and Genie is forced to choose between family and love.

Director Bay-Sa Pan's directing is self-assured; she is not afraid to slow down the movie's pace and to make her viewers uncomfortable. She reveals tense racial stereotypes that challenge both the characters in the film as well as us, the viewers. In a Q&A at Urban World Film Festival, Treach explained that this role was one of the first where he was asked to play a non-thug.

Through emotional ups and downs of humor, sadness and anger, we wind through this story and find it's end. Along the way, we are rewarded by a unique and unpredictable story as well as strong performances from Pan's actors, especially Kristy Wu, who's talent is abundantly clear. You'll absolutely will enjoy this movie!!! Check it out!!!!

Face takes an in depth look at relationships in all of their guises. The film delves so thoughtfully and deeply into a very specific family that it allows us all to reflect upon our own particular relationships and the choices we make and the hurdles we may or may not overcome. The performances are marvelous and nuanced. The characters are developed in a three dimensional manner that allows for ambiguity and hence interpretation. The characters seem real in their aspirations, their flaws, their wit, and their actions. In watching Face, everyone, but particularly Americans, can't help but play a mental sort of comparison game -- that was like my uncle Myron, or just like aunt Belle, or why didn't my brother handle it like that. Face becomes two stories -- the wonderful story on the screen and the internal story that creeps in over the credits about your own family. In short, Face is both beautiful and thought provoking.

This is a film that can be seen several times because it is so multifaceted, a classic that could be any immigrant's story, but equally a story of clashing generations. Told brilliantly, with outstanding actors and direction and a score that tells it's own story--"Face" is a must-see.