If you haven’t seen Crazy Rich Asians yet, then have you been living under a rock?
Based on Kevin Kwan’s novel, it’s the movie of the year that centres around family, love, friendship and humour and most importantly an all-Asian cast. Starring Fresh off the Boat star, Constance Wu as the titular character, Rachel Chu, this story is something that you will want to see again and again.
The film begins with Rachel and her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), “The Asian Bachelor”, going to Singapore to meet his family and attend his friend’s wedding. But spoiler alert: his family is crazy, rich and Nick’s mother, Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh) doesn’t like Rachel at all. Throughout the movie, she tries to impress the family through wearing their clothes, making dumplings with them, trying to speak Mandarin but we see that the family is not as perfect as we think. They might be millionaires where they don’t have to look at the price tag to buy it but happiness and love can be hard to find in a world of backstabbing, lies and of course, the extravagant pool parties.
However, the film delves nicely into Asian culture, with its clothes, family and soundtrack that can be appreciated and relatable to non-Asian and Asian audiences. And in today’s society where if you are Asian, that means you’re ultimately different.
Despite being born in Australia, I am never seen as truly Australian because of the colour of my skin and the shape of my eyes. Growing up, I’ve watched films or read books but I couldn’t see myself anywhere. Sure, there is Mulan, Chloe Bennet, Lucy Liu but there will always be movies like Ghost on the Shell, Aloha and The Last Airbender. The question is always there: When will we see our own reflection on the screen that’s not whitewashed? When will our voices not be erased from the narrative to be replaced by some other white man or woman?
But I’m now twenty years old and I have just watched Crazy Rich Asians with my family. This is a movie with all Asians speaking my language, cooking and eating my food, singing and playing my music. When I walked out of the cinema, I was overwhelmed because it’s the first time where I could finally see my true self. It’s no wonder then that Crazy Rich Asians is popular because it presents Asian men and women; not folded like an origami crane, not exotic, not as an accessory but as the main characters in the story.
What was your favourite moment from Crazy Rich Asians? Let us know!
