i’m not too sure if i want to loudly proclaim i was born in singapore, especially after watching crazy rich asians.
there were many bits i could identify with, others i definitely couldn’t (the “comfortable” part). i have to say going to the cinemas with an empty stomach was probably not the best idea as i was salivating looking at the delicious hokkein mee, chilli crab with fried man tou, satay, even durian! i did actually have ponder for a second wondering how much a cheap scoot flight back to singapore would cost just to eat the food i was seeing on the screen… oh, and of course, to see my family 😛
one surprisingly thing i did have to say was that i realised just how asian i am… as banana as i say i am. the topics raised, though wildly exaggerated, were something i am sad to say i could strongly identify with.
i’ve experienced too many of the scenarios vividly illustrated in the movie – a parent wanting the best for their kid and thinking their other half wasn’t good enough for the family, a grandmother saying rude things to future family members, being constantly asked whilst overseas to come back “home” to take over the family business, oh and of course the topic of money has to be addressed… perhaps a lot could be summed by the quote i’m confident every asian kid has experienced – “god forbid we lose the ancient chinese tradition of guilting your children”. i curious to figure out how many asians kids have ended up in therapy processing that guilt, realising they “will never be enough”.
by far the biggest and most noticeable reaction from the crowd in the movie was when astrid profoundly said – “it was never my job to make you feel like a man. i can’t make you something you’re not.”
it was nice to take a few hours to laugh at the rich chinese culture, though i do wonder – how many non-asians would get the full extent of the satire in this movie? it is so cleverly put together i have to say i wish it wasn’t so accurate at times.
now back to reality… well, at least i’m a far way from singapore now
review please… out of 5 stars?
5/5. I would actually pay to see the movie again in the cinemas 🙂
The last movie I liked as much as this was Intouchables, a French foreign film movie.