Film Illiterate, wherein the proprietor records movies seen, and sporadic progress through assorted lists of the "best". Originally started after regretfully renting something forgettable for the third time. I've forgotten what, but never again! A tedious endeavour since 2005. Hello. 🙂
Wai-Tung (Winston Chao), a gay Chinese immigrant living in the USA, pretends to be in a relationship with his tenant Wei-Wei (May Chin) to keep his real relationship with Simon (Mitchell Lichtenstein) secret from his visiting parents.
I mostly watched this because I was curious at how the 2025 remake had been described at putting a very different twist on the same material. That film is a useful contrast, a fluffier, thoroughly modern "love conquers all" look at modern sexuality, from an almost entirely Western point of view; its protagonist's traditional Korean wedding customs are a backdrop to a rom-com about commitment.
Ang Lee's original is much more interesting, largely because it straddles both the individualistic American perspective and a traditional Chinese one speaking to family and legacy. Wai-Tung's parents' perspectives are confronting but sympathetic, unlike the antagonistic off-screen grandfather in Andrew Ahn's re-do. It's subtle, sharply observed and much more interesting than it sounds like it will be from its romantic comedy concept.