In this romantic comedy, a young woman is trying to decide if her life is where she wants it to be. She is on the verge of falling in love with a beautiful woman, just beginning her medical career, and becoming comfortable with herself. Just as it seems that things start falling into place for her, her mother surprises her.

Michelle Krusiec ("Cursed") is Wil - short for Wilhelmina - an almost-thirty-year-old trying to accept her sexuality and reconcile it with her upbringing. When she meets an absolutely beautiful dancer named Vivian (Lynn Chen), she discovers they knew each other as children and the two hit it off with an instant attraction. Vivian is fascinated by Wil's stories of her family, especially her over-bearing, strict mother. Wil is completely unprepared when her mother suddenly appears at her home, needing a place to stay. Although she welcomes her mother, she is confused by her abrupt arrival until she finds out that her mother, who is widowed, is pregnant! Wil is shocked that her traditional mother would become pregnant out of wedlock, and demands to know what has been going on in her mother's life.

It turns out the two women know very little about one another. While Wil's mother tries hard to set her up with men who she feels are "appropriate" for Wil, Wil's new relationship with Vivian suffers. Wil is terrified of admitting to her mother that she is a lesbian and she turns down Vivian's repeated requests to come clean. Ironically, Wil tries to help her mother find a man - any man - to marry her so that she won't have to raise her child in shame. Ignoring who they really love, each woman focuses on "Saving Face" - trying to live a life that will be acceptable to their Chinese community, their family, and each other.

Written and directed by Alice Wu, "Saving Face" was well recieved at the Sundance film festival and was Wu's first major feature. As is usual, Joan Chen was wonderful in her role and did very well jumping between funny and dramatic scenes. Michelle Krusiec was entirely believable as Wil, a woman who isn't confused about her sexuality, but confused about what's most important - what people think of her, or the love of a good person. Lynn Chen is just gorgeous and was truly touching as a woman who is hurt and saddened at her lover's shame in their relationship.

I liked "Saving Face" and I think it would've been interesting to be in the audience at Sundance to catch everyone's reaction. I was surprised by the sex scene, which has been described as fairly explicit; I think it wouldn't have been considered as "explicit" had the stars been of the opposite sex. I always enjoy seeing Joan Chen in film; she is a delight on screen. To find something to pick at, I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more detail concerning the family's heritage, but perhaps the director assumed we've already seen that film.


Extra Extra! Tidbits About the Movie...
*Quote - "I suppose if there is one thing I am trying to say with the film, it is that no matter who you are - Asian or Black, Gay or Straight, young or old - that everyone basically wants to love - and that love can start at any point in your life that you want it to." - I just had to include this awesome quote from director Alice Wu on why she made the film.