I feel so poor after watching Crazy Rich
Asians! Like dirt poor. Where did I go wrong! One might think this wealth
is all ridiculously exaggerated but in fact it really isn't according to
people I know. Watching all this extreme affluence could be considered as
a tasteless display of ostentatious materialism but also more seriously taken
as a symbol of the slow but steady transfer of wealth from West to East that
is taking place. This film is shouting out - we have arrived - get the hell
out of our way - it is our time. The opening scene in the hotel in London
and the subservient roles that the white people (in particular the models
all designated by their Western nation at the party) have in the film say
this loud and clear.
But putting geopolitics aside, this is
a very enjoyable film that on one level is pure Hollywood Hocum with the
much used tale of a poor woman being shunned by the very wealthy family of
the man she loves - but setting it among the Chinese Singapore elite gives
it a new life and vitality. Funny and touching. No doubt certain cultural
aspects were missed by me (the mahjong game for one as a friend explained),
but at the same time much of this is universal. Still culture counts. It
is very much about the extended family and the interconnectivity of the Chinese
global community that has created so much success for them.
The family is portrayed as divided both
generationally as well as gender wise. It is very female oriented showing
the powerful role women play in this very matriarchal family where most of
the men are either absent, goofy, ineffectual or unfaithful. And the two
generations are very delineated - with the mother, grandmother and Aunties
trying to maintain traditional norms while the next generation has been very
Westernized through education and show no guilt or discretion in showing
their enormous wealth. It makes for rather a delicious confection.
The film also has a great soundtrack with
three songs by Grace Chang. She was a huge - and one of my favorite - film
and singing stars in Hong Kong back in the 1950's and 60's. It should also
be mentioned that the elderly grandmother is played by Lisa Lu who is legendary
in Hong Kong film. And Michelle Yeoh is terrific. Not someone you would want
to cross swords or words with. The rest of the cast is excellent and with
only a few exceptions very attractive.
After the film was over and my envy slowly
cooled off I wondered to myself whether I would actually take that wealth
if I had to live in that sort of family with obligations and expectations
reaching into your soul - and I thought no - it was so foreign to me - like
having to live underwater gasping for breath - but if you are born into it
one might think differently. I also wondered whether our heroine would be
happy a few years down the road stepping into the hard edged shoes of the
matriarch of the family and I thought that was highly unlikely - but perhaps
the new generation would not force her into that role. If there is a sequel,
we may find out!
