The Wedding Banquet

 

The Wedding Banquet is a wonderful dramatic comedy made by Ang Lee. The story of The Wedding Banquet takes place in New York City, Manhattan, bout a gay couple, Wei-Tung and Simon. Wei-Tung's parents live in Taiwan and are very traditional. His father is suffering from heart problems and most desperately wants to have a grandchild. Wei-Tung has not told his parents about his true sexuality and plans not to tell them. He has a tenant, Wei-Wei, a young Chinese woman in need of a green card. Wei-Tung's partner convinces him to have a fake marriage with Wei-Wei so his parents can be happy and so that Wei-Wei can remain in the United States. When his parents hear of the news they come to stay with him in Manhattan for two weeks to plan the wedding banquet. Wei-Wei moves in with Wei-Tung and pretend to be lovers to convince Wei-Tung's parents. Throughout these two weeks Simon and Wei-Tung start to become more distant as the two cannot be with each other. On the night of the wedding banquet Wei-Tung and Wei-Wei accidently had unprotected sex that resulted in Wei-Wei getting pregnant. This news made Simon very angry with Wei-Tung. After Wei-Tung's father had a minor stroke and now had to stay in Manhattan longer. In this time Wei-Tung confessed the truth to his mother abut the marriage and his sexuality. They agreed not to tell the father. Wei-Wei decided she wanted to have an abortion, Wei-Tung's mother was not happy the decision. Wei-Wei then changed her mind and decided to keep the baby and that she wanted Simon and Wei-Tung to help father it in which they agreed. Near the end of the film Wei-Tung's father reveals to Simon that he knows English and therefore knows the truth about Wei-Tung and Simon and the marriage. Wei-Tung's father accepts his son's sexuality and also accepts Simon as a son and makes Simon promise not to tell the others. Wei-Tung's father is also greatly happy that he will be a grandfather.

I believe the major theme or message that Ang Lee was trying to send in the film was that you shouldn't be afraid and hide your sexuality, people, especially loved ones can be understanding and accept you for who you are. In the film Wei-Tung felt his parents wouldn't accept him for being homosexual so that is why he had the fake marriage. However when they found out they were very accepting. I also felt another theme was the importance of your relationship with your loved ones. Wei-Tung and Simon throughout the film were having trouble with their relationship because of the fake marriage and Wei-Tung was upset because he loved Simon and it would be hard for him to find someone like him again.




My initial reaction to the film was that I really liked it; I thought it was a great film, it was very funny and had a great story that was dramatic at times. I felt the actors were very good in playing their roles. I also felt Ang Lee's direction was great. Overall what I liked best about the film was the story; it was wonderful, funny, touching, and dramatic, with a satisfying ending. I feel this is a film many people would enjoy.