The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan) (1993)
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96% of critics liked it
(26 reviews) -
85% of users liked it
(7,737 ratings)
A gay New Yorker stages a marriage of convenience with a young woman to satisfy his traditional Taiwanese family, but the wedding becomes a major inconvenience when his parents fly in for the ceremony. Director Ang Lee came to international prominence with this warm-hearted comedy, which centers on… More A gay New Yorker stages a marriage of convenience with a young woman to satisfy his traditional Taiwanese family, but the wedding becomes a major inconvenience when his parents fly in for the ceremony. Director Ang Lee came to international prominence with this warm-hearted comedy, which centers on the farcical confusion that emerges from this deception. Gao Wai Tung (Winston Chao) has never shared the truth about his sexuality with his family, and hopes to disguise his long-term relationship with his lover Simon by marrying Wei-Wei, a young artist who's only it for the green card. But Wai Tung's parents refuse to let him off the hook easily, showing up to plan a massive wedding banquet. Indeed, much of the film's comedy springs from the contrast between the sheer lavishness of the parents' plans and the sham nature of the wedding. Naturally, the titular party spins out of control, leading to a series of events that threatens all of Wai Tung's relationships. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ang Lee
- Written By
- Ang Lee, Neil Peng, James Schamus
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Gay & Lesbian, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 4, 1993 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A very adroit and entertaining social comedy.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Most of this is smoothly done and scripted with plenty of incident.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Never patronising his characters, Ang Lee combines comedy, both subtle and raucous, with acute social asides.
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Stephen Holden, New York Times
It is the unusual film comedy in which the humor springs as much from character as from situation.
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Joe Brown, Washington Post
Ang's elegantly orchestrated farce is generous with hilarious moments.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Winston Chao
as Wai Tung
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May Chin
as Wei-Wei
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Mitchell Lichtenstein
as Simon
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Sihung Lung
as Mr. Gao
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Ah-Leh Gua
as Mrs. Gao
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Jeffrey Howard
as Street Musician
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Patricia Sullivan
as Mariane
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Ang Lee
as Wedding Guest
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John Nathan Turner
as Joe
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Michael Gaston
as Justice of the Peace
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Neal Huff
as Steve
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Mason Lee
as Child Jumping on Bed (uncredited)
