Movies

A new generation gets hitched in ‘The Wedding Banquet.’ Its cast feels changed by the making of it

BBG News

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Just prior to filming their initial scene together in “The Wedding Banquet“, directors, Andrew Ahn, encouraged Kelly Marie Tran and Lily Gladstone to create hidden aspects or secrets regarding their respective characters that he, as the director, was unaware of.

During their initial encounter with Ahn, both Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan, a fresh face in South Korean films, were assigned similar tasks to uncover. This involved secrets their characters were to share as a couple, as well as personal matters each character was intended to conceal from the other.

On a recent shared Zoom call, Tran, aged 36, remarks, “We managed to produce quite a bit of history in a short amount of time,” as she and her fellow cast members reflect on their filming experience in Vancouver the previous year.

Whether these secrets were actually kept is another matter, though.

38-year-old Gladstone confesses that she eventually revealed her character’s secret to Tran, explaining jokingly, “It helped me empathize and forgive later.” On the other hand, Tran claims she can’t recall her character’s secret, but suspects her character was so repressed at the start of the film that it might have been a secret she wasn’t even aware of. Gladstone playfully responds, “I’m certain you must have shared it with me regardless.

Han, aged 26, confided in Yang, who is 34 years old, about possible secrets concerning his character to seek opinions. (However, this doesn’t quite fit the task.) They disclosed to me that Han’s character and Yang’s character shared a secret: they had first encountered each other at a lake, where one of them was engaged in birdwatching.

The shared historical context, whether experienced or not, provides a strong foundation for the tightly bonded quartet of friends depicted by the actors in “The Wedding Banquet.” A charming and enjoyable modern adaptation of Ang Lee’s groundbreaking 1993 queer romantic comedy, this film premiered at January’s Sundance Film Festival to positive reception. The movie, set to hit theaters on April 18, is a revamp by director Andrew Ahn, who collaborated with James Schamus (the original co-screenwriter) to enlarge the central marriage farce. In this new version, two queer couples find themselves entangled in a complex web of lies and secrets as they strive to create their own fairytale endings.

One member of the quartet is Angela (Tran) and Lee (Gladstone), deeply committed partners who have faced challenges with IVF treatments thus far, uncertain about the financial hurdles for further procedures. In addition, there’s Chris (Yang), Angela’s close friend, who has issues with commitment, and his partner Min (Han), a talented artist and heir to a vast multinational corporation, who is yet to come out to his traditional Korean family.

In a bid to extend his stay due to an impending expiration of his student visa, Min suggests marriage to Chris, hoping to maintain their shared life. However, Chris declines, leading Min to propose to Angela for the purpose of obtaining a green card. He promises to finance Lee’s IVF treatments in return. But their scheme encounters trouble when Min’s grandmother (the Academy Award-winning Youn Yuh-jung from “Minari”) unexpectedly travels from Korea, suspecting Min’s fabricated relationship. This forces the supposed couple to organize a grand wedding suitable for Min’s family standing.

Although “The Wedding Banquet” presents an unusual storyline, it offers a sincere exploration of the idea of ‘chosen family’, along with insights into how our birth families influence us.

According to Yang, who collaborated with Ahn on the 2022 comedy “Fire Island”, it felt incredibly genuine and authentic for kindness to serve as the foundation of their bond. He further adds that this sense of unity is a defining characteristic of a chosen family, particularly within the queer community.

The actors claim that this act of kindness seeped throughout the entire production, promoting understanding and tolerance among everyone involved, including the cast and team behind the scenes.

Reflecting back, Tran shares that what truly made this film unique was the fact that none of us needed an explanation or definition of ‘chosen family.’ As a renowned actor for her roles in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “Raya and the Last Dragon,” where she lent her voice to the title character, Tran recalls numerous crew members expressing how extraordinary it was to work on a set that was predominantly queer. This sentiment was infectious, creating an atmosphere of magic and warmth on set.

During our Zoom meeting, spanning various time zones such as New York and South Korea, the camaraderie among the actors is evident, despite being physically apart on-screen. This bond becomes apparent in their shared amusement over a humorous inside joke about being “pro-butt,” their reminiscing about Han’s habit of playing Avril Lavigne’s song “Complicated,” and their collective ‘awws’ when Han’s cat suddenly appears. It’s also noticeable in the way they promptly offer to read and translate Gladstone’s comments while she adjusts her microphone.

Beyond socializing and embarking on treks, their Vancouver bonding experiences also featured watching an elderly Korean choir in Vancouver perform “Mamma Mia” and catching a screening of “Fancy Dance,” an independent film featuring Gladstone that was playing during their filming. However, according to Yang, it was reality TV, specifically the show “Couples Therapy,” that truly strengthened their bond.

In Yang’s words, “Watching ‘Couples Therapy’ together during its fourth season seemed to greatly contribute to something significant among the four of us.” He adds, “The memories of us viewing it together will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Gladstone notes that he enjoyed it, as in the movie, Lee becomes friends with Chris by watching ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ together.

As someone who prefers more dramatic films over reality TV, I found the show that centered around complex human behaviors and relationships particularly captivating. It seemed like a clever move, whether intentional or not, by its creators. Good storytellers, after all, often weave in ancillary tales to strengthen their main narrative.

The reasons behind Gladstone’s description of “The Wedding Banquet” as an exceptional lifestyle undertaking become evident when you consider that it was the project the actress agreed to work on right after receiving an Academy Award nomination for “Killers,” which significantly elevated her visibility in the industry.

According to Gladstone, some projects require her to be away from home for extended periods and create an unpleasant mental state for much of the day. However, she found this particular project to be a fulfilling physical experience due to its healing and joyful nature, with a positive and satisfying conclusion.

Gladstone is quick to explain that for her, “chosen family is family.”

In the Indian community, genealogy is well-maintained – you know your relatives and those who aren’t related to you. There’s an extensive group of my family that are cousins, but if we trace back, they’re cousins due to adoption or chosen relationships. I believe culturally, the concept of a chosen family can be subjective. On an individual level, it’s also subjective. However, there is a common thread: you select a family where you are accepted, celebrated, and loved for who you truly are.

In the drama “Where Your Eyes Linger,” Han is renowned for his role in a Korean boy-love series. However, “The Wedding Banquet” marks his debut in an English-language production. Although he was thrilled about the part, he confessed to feeling some apprehension. Yet, he acknowledges that it was his fellow actors and director Ahn who helped him conquer his jitters so he could delve deeper into his character. He explains how Min, in the film, establishes his own family, not just fulfilling the expectations of his grandma and relatives, but ultimately achieving what he truly desires.

In this movie, Han discovered the concept of chosen family and gained insights into the queer community beyond Korea. He refers to his time on the film as an exciting journey. Prior to this, he had no understanding at all… but now, during these interviews, he’s learning even more about worldwide issues related to LGBTQ communities – it’s a completely novel experience for him.

His fellow actors are prompt to praise him highly. Gladstone lavishes Han with admiration for his dedication towards every scene and knack for “bringing out the subtle comedic elements.” Yang praises Han as “outstanding” and “courageous,” appreciating how he “acts in a way that resonates universally, making humor that surpasses language barriers.

Moreover, although Han isn’t personally part of the LGBTQ+ community, as Yang explains, “He understands the thoughts and feelings of someone who identifies as queer, as this is how one would think or feel universally.

For Chris, Yang’s character, the implications are more deeply personal yet equally important. A significant portion of the movie finds him grappling with his role in the evolving relationship between Lee, Angela, and Min, as he steps back from his boyfriend’s proposal due to not being involved in their arranged marriage or fertility journey.

According to Yang, he’s so indecisive that he’s lost touch with his friend circle. Throughout the movie, it’s clear that he’s unsure about his role within their group.

Yang explained that the man’s inability to make a decision has led him to drift away from his friends. During the entire film, it’s evident that he’s uncertain about his purpose within the group.

For Tran, “The Wedging Feast” offered an opportunity to delve into topics and struggles that she found surprisingly relevant to her personal life – most notably, Angela’s struggle with her mother, May (Joan Chen), whose excessive support sometimes posed unique difficulties.

Tran expresses, “It’s quite uncommon to tackle issues from your private life at work, but for me, that’s what I’ve been doing. My background is very traditional, and telling my mother about my sexuality was a difficult process. Angela’s story might give you an idea of this. This journey has been deeply emotional as I’ve been embracing this aspect of myself, even though I can’t openly do so with some members of my family.

Instead of planning it, Tran disclosed her identity in an interview with Vanity Fair during a studio visit. Despite usually guarding her personal life, Tran feels content that the revelation came up naturally in a chat.

Tran expresses that he didn’t want to conceal his identity. He was producing a film during that period and felt it was wonderful to showcase that aspect of ourselves. However, he found it inconsistent not to openly share this part of himself too.

Gladstone recognized that the character’s role lacked a defined ethnicity or cultural background, which opened up a unique possibility: naming her Lee. This name was selected as a tribute to Princess Angeline, the daughter of Chief Seattle (also known as Si’ahl), a renowned Duwamish leader and namesake of the city. As the film was based on Duwamish territory, making Lee a Duwamish character served two purposes: it enhanced representation, and it deepened the character’s struggles, as she not only yearned to have a baby but also worked tirelessly to protect her home.

According to Gladstone, since the Duwamish tribe isn’t federally recognized, Lee maintaining their shared home was a form of defiance or resistance.

In addition, Gladstone notes that it’s crucial for Lee to carry their child using their own eggs because “it preserves the ancestral line.” He explains, “Given that 90-95% of the population perished due to acts of genocide, it’s vital to ensure this legacy continues.

In contrast, Chris’ plotline centers around his bond with his laid-back younger cousin, Kendall (played by Bobo Le), who, in earlier drafts, was simply a close friend but not family. However, it wasn’t until Bobo was cast that the idea of making Chris and Kendall relatives emerged from Ahn.

In Yang’s words, “That [provided] a poignant touch, as it transforms into a cherished family tale for Chris. Now, each of them shares something unique,” she notes. “I believe the film excels at intertwining all these narratives so beautifully is because they are all influenced by their respective roots in traditional families.

The actors themselves understand that the movie is being released during a period when the LGBTQ+ community is facing growing hostility from loud opponents and political figures. It’s part of the reason why Tran decided it was important to share her own experiences and identity.

Tran expresses a desire that if there’s a unique Asian girl somewhere who lacks a chosen family or access to queer community centers, and struggles to find acceptance, she should have the ability to look at someone and know that there are places beyond where she is now where she can feel accepted.

Gladstone notes that everyone seems genuinely thrilled to offer a warm, welcoming, and carefully selected family environment at a moment when things can be tough.

As a movie enthusiast, immersing myself in this Zoom call feels akin to discovering a lush, vibrant oasis amidst a barren landscape. Similarly, the movie itself seems like a radiant haven, brimming with queer exuberance and reflecting the joyous spirit of its creation.

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2025-04-11 18:32

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