The Joy Luck Club (R)
Poignant tale of Chinese-American moms, daughters.
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Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: Buena Vista Pictures
- Directed By: Wayne Wang
- Cast: Ming-Na
- Running Time: 139 minutes
- Release Date: 09/08/1993
- Video/DVD Release Date: 06/04/2002
- Genre: Drama
- MPAA Rating: R
- MPAA Explanation: strong depiction of thematic material
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film includes scenes of family expulsion and conflict, rape, child abandonment, parental death, spousal abuse (both physical and mental), and suicide. While not actually very racy, raunchy, or violent by today's standards, each story includes extremely upsetting material. This warning is more about emotional content than any graphic sex, violence, or language.
Families can talk about family and cultural differences. As the film revolves around the stories of four mother-daughter relationships, the film presents a good opportunity to talk about the nature of mother/daughter relationships. What are the similarities and differences between the kinds of conflicts present in the film and those that occur within your family? Parents and children could also discuss ways in which Chinese culture appears different than (or similar to) American culture. How does the shift from China to the United States change the ways that families interact with each other (or does it)? Do these characters have any added pressures put on them by their cultural heritage? (NOTE: This story is told in a combination of English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.)
Families can talk about family and cultural differences. As the film revolves around the stories of four mother-daughter relationships, the film presents a good opportunity to talk about the nature of mother/daughter relationships. What are the similarities and differences between the kinds of conflicts present in the film and those that occur within your family? Parents and children could also discuss ways in which Chinese culture appears different than (or similar to) American culture. How does the shift from China to the United States change the ways that families interact with each other (or does it)? Do these characters have any added pressures put on them by their cultural heritage? (NOTE: This story is told in a combination of English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.)
Message
Social Behavior:
This film tells the story of several very strong women; however, they each overcome oppression by some seriously bad people. While the women display physical and mental strength, undying family devotion, and abilities to persevere in terrible situations, others--often spouses or family members--are mentally, verbally, and physically abusive and altogether oppressive.
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Nothing aside from casual drinking. A character overdoses after eating opium.
Violence
More emotional abuse than actual physical violence. The film does include the drowning of a baby, spousal abuse, implied rape, self-mutilation, and suicide.
Sex
Implied rape, one sex scene in long shot with no nudity.
Language
Occasional swearing, but usually in subtitles and minor.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Kelly Kessler
THE JOY LUCK CLUB, adapted from Amy Tan's bestselling novel, chronicles the past and present lives of a group of Chinese-American women living in present-day San Francisco. Told through a series of complex flashbacks, this film interrogates the childhoods and marriages/relationships of four sets of mothers and daughters. From a mother forced to abandon her babies in war-torn China to a Chinese-American chess prodigy oppressed by her mother's pride, these women live through physical, emotional, familial, and sexual turmoil. All eight struggle to find peace and strength within themselves and attempt to pass it on to their own daughters.
Is it any good?
This film truly is a masterpiece that presents the heart-wrenching stories of eight different women and steers clear of lapsing into sugary melodrama. The film serves as a seldom-seen meaty vehicle for Asian-American actors. Rarely does one see a film that engages so thoughtfully with its female characters.
Alternating from traditional Chinese clothing to Americanized tailored men's and women's suits to contemporary business and casual wear, the costume design uses line, color, and style to help transport the viewer from place to place and communicate the characters' places within varying periods of divided societies. Come prepared with a box of tissues. The cumulative effect of the various stories may leave the viewer reaching for a hanky or two. Mothers and daughters might enjoy viewing this film together as a means of sparking discussion about their own relationships.
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Parents and kids say
All Reviews
There are 3 reviews.
A fantastic movie based on an even better book.
Adult Reviews
There are 2 reviews.
Kids Reviews
There are 1 reviews.
A fantastic movie based on an even better book.
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