In San Francisco California, an immigrant widow welcomes the new year with some unhappiness. She is sixty-two years old now and she wants to make a trip to China. She wants to pay her last respects to her ancestors. A fortune teller has told her this is the year she will die? Her daughter, Geraldine is still unmarried. Geraldine does have a boyfriend but she's not sure she's ready for marriage? Anyway, her boyfriend lives in Los Angeles. Geraldine doesn't want to leave her mother alone in her declining years. Mrs. Tan's cheerful brother-in-law tries to help them out. Is there any solution that will enable Mrs. Tan to hold onto her culturally influenced and deep-seated hopes. But will these hopes suffocate Geraldine?
Director Wayne Wang doesn’t explain very much in this film. He takes his own time and that can be rather measured. Quiet is the order of the day. The emotion that “Dim Sum” taps is profound. Its pull is both distinctly Chinese and utterly universal. The are the complicated feelings of obligation, guilt and the duty of a concerned child for his or her parent. Mrs. Tam has been given a cutoff date for her life and she believes the message to be true. The first thing and the most important thing for her is to plan a last trip back to China. She must pay her final respects and portion out the family treasures. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
88 min, Comedy directed by Wayne Wang and written by Terrel Seltzer with Laureen Chew, Kim Chew, Victor Wong, Ida F.O. Chung, Cora Miao, John Nishio, Amy Hill, Keith Choy, Mary Chew, Nora Lee, Joan Chen, Rita Yee, George Woo, Elsa Cruz Pearson.
Note: Imdb 6.5* out of 10* with 255 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 88% with 8 critic reviews 52% with 100+ audience scores, Letterboxd 3.4* out of 5*, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 3.7* out of 5* with 11 ratings.
Special Note: Mark Dacascos filmed a scene with Joan Chen but the scene was deleted. PBS edited two minutes from this film for its 1987 network television premiere?
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