Red Doors (2005)

59% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(1,555 ratings)

The retired patriarch of a New York-based Chinese-American family finds that escaping the insanity of his decidedly dysfunctional clan is more difficult than he anticipated in a thoughtful family drama from writer/director Georgia Lee. There was a time when the Wong's were happy, but time has a… More The retired patriarch of a New York-based Chinese-American family finds that escaping the insanity of his decidedly dysfunctional clan is more difficult than he anticipated in a thoughtful family drama from writer/director Georgia Lee. There was a time when the Wong's were happy, but time has a strange way of transforming relationships and now all that Ed Wong (Tzi Ma) can see in his family is frustration and rebellion. Though he longs to flee to the calming confines of an upstate Buddhist monastery, Ed is about to find out just how the actions of his three mischievous daughters can throw his outwardly perfect plan for the future into question. As his well-heeled oldest daughter Samantha (Jacqueline Kim) reevaluates her love life and professional career while preparing for an upcoming wedding, middle daughter Julie (Elaine Kao) strives to improve the failing social life that has taken a back seat to her demanding schedule as a medical student, and youngest daughter Katie (Kathy Shao-lin Lee) enters into an increasingly dangerous prank war with longtime neighbor and determined nemesis Simon. Though a look back at the family's old home movies offer Ed a nostalgic glimpse into a happier time when the Wong's were actually able to communicate their feelings to one and other, the dejected father soon discovers that the stories and images from the past may provide new hope for the future as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Georgia Lee
Written By: Georgia Lee
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 22, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 30, 2007
Studio: Polychrome Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Not surprisingly, the three Wong sisters and their father could exist in separate movies -- their (short) stories are interesting but not convincingly knit together. Think of Red Doors as a promise, and hope that [director] Georgia Lee keeps it.
G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
A gentle, pleasant film about people you genuinely like.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
... the script falls victim to the stereotypes and cliches so often found in movies about Asian-American families.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Red Doors feels like a first-time film; quirks are overplayed while themes remain underdeveloped.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Named for the traditional Chinese color of good luck, the gentle indie drama Red Doors is really more in the rosy pink range of the color palette than a more primary emotional hue.
John Anderson, Newsday
Well-shot, well-written film.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Writer-director Georgia Lee is sadly not above such antic touches of whimsy in this family film, which rarely approaches anything akin to reality.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
A smart, observant, and very entertaining film.
Tim Cogshell, Boxoffice Magazine
This family drama is balanced between equal measures of dark humor and pathos so that Red Doors floats gently between sentimentality and cynicism. It's a lovely little film, and well done.
Kim Voynar, Cinematical
You don't have to be Asian-American to appreciate the Wongs with all their flaws and missteps; this could be your family, or the family of anyone you know, and in that way the film crosses that invisible genre line in the sand.
Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly
A peppy if uneven charmer with a fetchingly wistful edge.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Like many first-time writer-directors, she packs five films' worth of drama, crises and revelations into one, and often lapses into sitcom triteness.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
Two storylines make Red Doors an enjoyable film but there are so many things holding it back (the mother/wife's story is given no real time to connect with the audience) that stop it from being a respectable movie.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
Although deserving a place in the annals of dignified cinema, Georgia Lee's breakthough feature film is a snoozer.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jim H

A comically suicidal father, a FOB-ie mother, and their three daughters, including an Asian punk, an advertising executive, and a lesbian doctor, try to find their place in American culture. This film's strengths are its ability to present characters who are both flawed and… More
A comically suicidal father, a FOB-ie mother, and their three daughters, including an Asian punk, an advertising executive, and a lesbian doctor, try to find their place in American culture. This film's strengths are its ability to present characters who are both flawed and genuinely good human beings. By the end of the film, I couldn't help but root for each of these people. Also, there are profoundly effective moments when we share in the joy and nostalgia that each of these characters feels for their old culture and lost youth. Backed against these dramatic moments are some very funny segments. The relatively violent flirtation between Katie and the boy at school provides some good comic relief, and for those of you who find a sick humor in ludicrously executed suicide attempts, Ed is your guy. Finally, I think there is the perfect balance between telling the story via dialogue and images. Unfortunately, I can't say that the characters ever rise beyond types. Most of them fall into some Asian-American stereotype. Thus, the film, in its attempt to problematize the dominant view of the Asian-American experience, ultimately doesn't add enough complication or personalization. Overall, <i>Red Doors</i> is a strong film, but it could have been so much more.
Nicki M

Slight, but decent. Not a terrible lot happens, and I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to see this, but there are worse uses of an hour and a half.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Red Doors," Ed(Tzi Ma) has just retired and with little to do during the day, turns his mind to suicide but is consantly interrupted.(One of the universal truths is that there is never anything good on television during the day.) His eldest daughter,… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Red Doors," Ed(Tzi Ma) has just retired and with little to do during the day, turns his mind to suicide but is consantly interrupted.(One of the universal truths is that there is never anything good on television during the day.) His eldest daughter, Sam(Jacqueline Kim), can sense something wrong and buys him three months worth of psychiatric visits for his birthday. She is also engaged to be married to Mark(Jayce Bartok), when an old flame, Alex(Rossif Sutherland), reenters her life. The middle daughter, Julie(Elaine Kao), works as an intern in a hospital in New York City where an actress, Mia Scarlett(Mia Riverton), is researching a role. The only possible underachiever in the family is Katie(Kathy Shao-Lin Lee), who attends high school where she pursues an unusual flirtation with Simon(Sebastian Stan).[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Red Doors" is a gentle and winning but slightly predictable comedy of manners that is concerned with communication between loved ones, or lack therein of any. So, when we do not have the words to express how we feel, sometimes a gesture can accomplish the same thing, even if it may seem a little odd.[/font]
Leo L

Fantastic movie! Amazing story plot. Here's an interesting movie about a Chinese-American family that connect, and help each other, in the various day-to-day life, in both good and hard times. Great cast. Hilarious! A must-see!