Saving Face
This cycle showcases the cinematic works of filmmakers from East Asian diasporas, exploring North American identity in their films.
Saving Face is a romantic comedy about a daughter struggling to understand her mother's heart, which ultimately allows her to understand her own. It is the story of unspoken loves, contemporary and cultural taboos, and the journey of two women towards living their lives honestly.
Alice Wu
Alice Wu is an American film director and screenwriter, known for her films Saving Face (2004) and The Half of It (2020). Both of her films feature Chinese-American main characters and explore the lives of intellectual, lesbian characters. A number of production companies offered to buy the script for Saving Face, but Wu opted not to sell it in order to uphold an authentic portrayal of the Taiwanese-American community. This film and Wu's impact on the industry have paved the way for greater Asian representation in the film industry today. Her work has inspired Asian-American actresses such as Awkwafina and Lana Condor.
