Ang Lee's 1993 culture-clash comedy The Wedding Banquet represented America's introduction to the Taiwanese-born filmmaker. The art-house success of his second film led to the official release of his first, 1991's Pushing Hands, also starring Taiwanese actor Sihung Lung, who would appear in four Lee films before his passing in 2002 (1994's Eat Drink Man Woman forms the third film in Lee's "Father Knows Best" trilogy).
In Lee's directorial debut, Lung plays Mr. Chu, a widower and tai chi master, who lives in Westchester, New York with his son, Alex (Bozhao Wang), and daughter-in-law, Martha (Deb Snyder). It's an uneasy arrangement. His mode of dress, his diet--everything about him--spells Chinese. When Alex is at work, it's just Mr. Chu and Martha, who don't speak the same language, both literally and figuratively. If anything, she's wary of him and his unusual ways. While she works on her novel, Mr. Chu practices calligraphy prepares traditional dishes, and watches old martial arts movies.
Mr. Chu's six-year-old grandson, Jeremy (Haan Lee), has been taking Chinese lessons, but he and Martha make no attempt to understand each other. Mr. Chu finds a more supportive environment at the local Chinese community center where he teaches tai chi, but just as he had been getting to know the spirited Mrs. Chen (Lai Wang), the widowed cooking instructor, she and her family move away, leaving him lonelier and more isolated than ever.
Communication difficulties lead to a myriad of problems. "I feel stifled," Mr. Chu finally tells his son. If it's easy to sympathize with him, the impatient Martha proves more challenging. The seemingly stable Alex also loses his temper when his father goes missing in a manner that proves concerning, though Mr. Chu eventually finds his way back.
Though Martha and Alex attempt to resolve the tense situation without consulting him, Mr. Chu decides to take matters into his own hands. When his new work-life scenario hits a roadblock, his martial arts skills come in handy in a way that makes him a sort of folk hero. This section of the film, which takes place in Chinatown, predicts Lee's high-profile ventures into action fare with 2003's Hulk and 2000's best foreign-language film winner Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, albeit on a smaller scale.
In its segue from the suburbs to the city, Pushing Hands feels like two films in one, since Mr. Chu's urban adventures take on a darker tenor. The acting can also be inconsistent, though Sihung Lung and Wang Lai are consistently engaging.
Even at a relatively young age, Lee evinced great sympathy for Chinese elders who feel like a burden or an imposition to their Americanized children. By extension, this film, now in a new 4K restoration, reflects the experiences of many elderly Americans, Chinese or otherwise, who feel as if the world has moved on without them. Recommended for its empathetic look at the challenges the stubborn, but resourceful Mr. Chu faces and the emotional journey he takes to meet them.
What type of library programming could use this title?
Library programming centered on the immigrant experience and Asian-American culture.
What kind of film series would this film fit in?
Consider this title if you are programming a series on Taiwanese cinema or the work of Ang Lee for film studies students.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Film collections dedicated to Asian, Taiwanese, or Chinese cinema in public libraries or academic libraries for film studies programs.