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The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan) (1993)

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Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 16
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 7,243

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Movie Info

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

R, 1 hr. 51 min.

Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Gay & Lesbian, Comedy

Directed By: Ang Lee

Written By: Ang Lee, Neil Peng, James Schamus

In Theaters: Aug 4, 1993 Wide

On DVD: Jun 15, 2004

Cast

Winston Chao
Wai Tung
May Chin
Wei-Wei
Mitchell Lichtenstein
Simon
Sihung Lung
Mr. Gao
Ah-Leh Gua
Mrs. Gao
Jeffrey Howard
Street Musician
Patricia Sullivan
Mariane
Ang Lee
Wedding Guest
John Nathan Turner
Joe
Michael Gaston
Justice of the Peace
Neal Huff
Steve
Mason Lee
Child Jumping on Bed (u...

Critic Reviews for The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan)

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (1) | DVD (4)

This sharply observed madcap comedy, about a marriage of convenience between a gay Taiwanese American and a Chinese woman, examines the primacy of the individual within a culture that worships authority and rewards conformity.

October 31, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The Wedding Banquet fits perfectly into a lot of niche film categories: Indie, queer, immigrant. But really it transcends those labels.

May 26, 2004 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Gil Jawetz

DVDTalk.com

Fine, subtle, moving Ang Lee film.

August 13, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

clever, consistently funny and unexpectedly poignant to boot

July 29, 2002 Comment

James Sanford

Kalamazoo Gazette

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Audience Reviews for The Wedding Banquet (Xi yan)

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Wonderful portrait of what seems like a good idea at the time which spins wildly out of control and changes everyone involved, ultimately for the better even if its not immediately apparent at the time. Beautiful ending.

May 4, 2008