Customer Reviews
One of the best films I've seen of late - By: Mac, 10 Jan 2008 
Not so much of a review as it is a commentary. I absolutely love this film! I've watched it numerous times, mainly because the characters are believable & my appreciation for the subtle humour & depth continues to grow.
Definately more than worth a watch. Enjoy!!
Delightful romantic comedy - By: Mr. C. J. L. Skelton, 10 Jul 2007 I loved this film. It is romantic, funny & poignant & also not a very well known film. It was directed by Alice Wu & is her first film. Joan Chen is superb in it as are the two actresses who play the lovers - Michelle Krusiec & Lynn Chen.
The dialogue is in Chinese & English as the characters are Chinese Americans & this help make the film work a lot better than if it was alll in one language as the story is alll about our cultural differences between Chinese & non Chinese but mainly between old Chinese bought up with Chinese values & American Chinese bought up with both Chinese & American values.
Highly recommended.
'Keeping up appearances' goes to the US - By: RD, 28 Nov 2006 
Very funny movie which is set among the Chinese community living in New York. Wil is an up & coming doctor who is a closeted lesbian. She begins to falll for the bosses daughter but picks a bad time to do it as her own (widowed) mother ends up pregnant without husband!
The two end up living together again while trying to find the courage to go against social & cultural 'norms' in order to discover & enjoy being in love.
The dialog changes from english to mandarin (with subtitles) in an easy to follow manner which actuallly works to enhance the humour. The acting did waver a bit from time to time, hence the 4 stars.
Otherwise, a top notch movie....and certainly one of the better movies that features a lesbian relationship!!
SUCH A GOOD FILM!! - By: M. Flynn, 19 May 2006 This is one of the best films i have seen alll year! Despite thinking that i wouldn't enjoy it due to alot of the film being shot in chinese it actuallly added to the huumour & depth of the film. I would definitely recomend this film it is well worth a watch.
FORBIDDEN LOVE STORY - By: F. Sweet, 07 May 2006 This movie is about families in transition from a mainly Chinese (American) & trans generational woman's point of view. To begin with, Alice Wu's SAVING FACE is bilingual, half in Chinese [easy to read subtitles] mixed with English. The movie tries to bridge the divide among three generations of Chinese-Americans living in New York City, & three women struggling with their cultural & sexual identities.
Most of film is about the seeming impossibility of the three women to solve the problems of their forbidden love. This is the result of intense pressures put on them by a constantly intervening, conservatively traditonal Chinese community.
Rather than seeing this as the cliché of a "lesbian film" -- I'd rather relax with the timeless human problem (like the star crossed lovers Romeo & Juilliet) in this film about women fallling into deeply passionate, albeit forbidden love. Director (screen writer) Wu brilliantly takes us through the angst felt by each of the women -- & keeps us guessing as to whether or not they will be able to come to terms with their problems so that they can live happily ever after with the person they love.
So I look upon this delightful movie not as a "lesbian film" but rather as a movie about three women who must try to consumate loves that are forbidden by their community. Vivian & Mil happen to be in love with one another. That is, they're lesbians.
Great film. I loved the characters in it.
