CRAZY RICH ASIANs
A film by
Jon M. Chu, “Crazy Rich Asians’’ is based on one of the bestselling novels by
the same name. This is another interesting and different movie based on hybrid
birth of humans. This movie shimmers with the setting of the film with glided
Asian rich homes and flashy outfits with jewels.
This can be look
upon as another simple love story two youngsters with an honest bond, which is
later made complicated by family. Rachel, a university lecturer who is a career
woman and grown up with her mother, is a
simple girl who does not long for something better for her as she is happy
about what she already possess. She lives a happy love life with Nick. She is
in whole excitement to meet his family until she gets to know that Nick is not
the ordinary boyfriend she imagined to be during the whole time. Nick comes to
be an heir of a famous wealthy family in Asia.
The poor
girl does not have any idea about Nick’s mother and family until she gets to
meet them during the family ceremony. Nick’s mom Eleanor, who is a typical
Asian mother with high hopes for her children and a woman who has her own
prejudices and ways. She shows her whole
disapproval for Rachel from the first glimpse she has her eyes on her. Her
dissatisfaction and unhappiness about her son’s choice is written in every
muscle of her performance. She rejects Rachel both physically and mentally.
Even though
Rachel is a well-educated young lady with common sense and good humor, the
difference of the class makes it a mine zone for her to move with the rich
family of Nick. She only lacks the well-heeled pedigree that Eleanor wishes for
her son. Therefore, Rachel finds it quite challenging to survive within the
grounds.
Addition to the money difference, another major issue that Eleanor brings up is the cultural difference. Rachel is a “banana” to Nick’s family according to her friend. She is born in a western country and grownup her whole life there. But her roots are in Asian China. So, she is yellow outside and white from side like a banana. The alienated feeling makes her feel like a stranger to both countries. It is also drastic to see that we find the same feelings once able to break her down eventually become a strength instead of a softness.
She is proud
about her immigrant roots in the face of Eleanor’s shamming. She does not discourages
herself because of the comments and rough treatments of the rich society. She
stands straight as an educated and independent woman. Even though she loves
Nick, she does not intent to possess him
selfishly by hurting his mom. She leaves back without him with great
difficulty. Rachel gets her moment to shine in a battle of wits among the rich
ladies in the family. She shows that the power is not simply only in the hands
of rich ones.
This movie
also brings out the difference between the old and new money status. In
addition, the bond with the mothers is a major factor in the movie. Rachel’s mom
becomes her best friend and she supports her daughter unconditionally. Even
though she is not rich as Eleanor, she has brought up her daughter to be a
brave and independent woman. On the other side, Nick does not have a close and
friendly with her mom even though she supplies him all the luxurious facilities
in every hand.
“Crazy Rich
Asians’’ have not forgotten to pay its attention on food. The camera gets close
enough to the steaming pots filled with tasty food and to kitchens where tens
of cooks are enthusiastically engaged. The colorful plates and spicy meats will
make its audiences’ mouthwatering. The purpose of this maybe to show the
culture of Asians too. The scene of making Dumpling by the whole family sitting
in the same table depicts the relationship among the family members and it
symbolizes the how things are taken to the next generation.
How can a
movie make a dark image on all the rich people in such families in the society?
That is the reason why the movie avoids painting all the wealthy characters as villains.
Racheal finds shoulders in the family and friends to lean on and share her
sorrows and to help her endure Eleanor’s judgmental behavior and some cruel
bullying from jealous girls.
This movie can be also seen as a movie about powerful woman at its center. We have Eleanor a strong rich woman who have used her wealth like a shield to protect her family from the enemies in the past. Nick’s cousin too uses her wealth and financial status to stand against her cheating husband. Likewise, Racheal though she does not use wealth, she too is depicted as a empowering woman in the modern society.
By; Sathya Sammani.
photo credits to the original photographers
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