On that rare occasion, a film can have the power to make significant cultural impact. Think Black Panther earlier this year with its portrayal of diverse, noble Africans and African-Americans and strong black women. For the Asian community, Crazy Rich Asians, may not be a superhero movie about saving the world but it still carries an empowering message that we, too, can be the heroes of our own love stories. I grew up watching so many films where the white boy gets the white girl. I wanted to be Sandy in Grease, but she was blond. I wanted to be Sally in When Harry Met Sally, but she was blond. I could go on. No mainstream rom-com has ever featured an all-Asian English speaking cast. No major studio film has ever made the distinction between being an American of Asian descent and those who were born and raised in Asia.
Crazy Rich Asians continues to rule the #1 box office spot and that’s hugely significant. Kudos to Jon M. Chu for telling this story that is entertaining people across ethnic lines that will have ripples with seeing increased stories for people of Asian descent who are American, British, Australian or from other non-Asian countries. For more on this, you can also listen to the new podcast Love, Discovery and Dim Sum I just launched with my husband, Only Won. We unpack the significance of the film and strange questions we’ve been asked about it.
Listen to “The Guide for Non-Asians to Crazy Rich Asians” on Spreaker.