Asian Representation

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

While munching on a moon cake, I felt that today is the perfect day to talk about two spectacular movies that came out last month starring Asian-American casts. You might have heard about them; Crazy Rich Asians and To All The Boys I've Loved Before.

I went to watch Crazy Rich Asians as soon as it was out with my sister and a bunch of my cousins. I had already seen a couple trailers and it lived up to my every expectation. Everything about it was incredible. I've shed happy and sad tears, and any movie that can get me to cry or laugh my heart out is a good movie to me.
The same goes for To All The Boys I've Loved Before, which I watched cozied up on the couch with my sister. I did not think I could love a teenage rom-com that much, but I watched it three days in a row after the first night, and I think that's saying enough.

Noah Centineo and Lana Condor in To All The Boys I've Loved Before

They were both amazing movies with different but equally incredible story lines, but the best part was obviously the amazing casts. It's really special to me to see the Asian-American community represented this way. It happens way too often in Hollywood that Asian actors get a secondary role at best, and even then, they're very often roles mocking or stereotyping Asians. Yet in both these movies, the leading roles were Asian. Not to mention that the entire cast of Crazy Rich Asians is Asian! That feels insane and it's such a huge accomplishment.

Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding and Constance Wu in Crazy Rich Asians

It's very disconcerting to watch movies or shows while growing up and having to actively search for someone who looks alike. It sets a bad example, especially for young people. We don't find people in movies that look like us, so we can't relate to anyone. And we start to second-guess ourselves, we start to feel like we can't do as many things as others. We don't feel normal or comfortable in our own skin. We feel like outsiders. Then suddenly, we wonder, what if I looked like everybody else? What if I didn't come from wherever I come from?

As awful as it is, I have to admit that there have been times when I was younger that I wished I wasn't Chinese. I thought that being Chinese, or Asian for that matter, was holding me back from things that my peers didn't have any trouble with. I was always made fun of, ever since I was little. It was so damaging to my self-esteem. I really had to stomp it into my mind that I could do whatever I wanted, regardless of where I'm from or how I look like. It's taken me forever, but I've finally started to embrace being a person of colour. I think, if I had more people to look up to when I was younger, I could've been a more confident person today.

Constance Wu and Lana Condor, the two leads in the movies, have both grown up in the America and have both spoken out about this issue as well. They are definitely worth checking out if you have the time.

I loved Crazy Rich Asians so much, because it so accurately and unapologetically showed my culture. The food that I always eat, the language that I speak, albeit quite poorly. Even some songs were recognisable because my dad always used to play them. I felt giddy everytime I heard another one. And of course, the importance of Chinese families and the sometimes hectic atmosphere in them. It all felt very familiar and made me feel so at ease. I couldn't believe how well they portrayed it all.

Cast of Crazy Rich Asians

Even though To All The Boys I've Loved Before doesn't touch upon the Asian aspect as in-depth as CRA does, I know it was still important to sprinkle in some elements. In this article I read that Jenny Han, the author of the book, wanted to retain little touches like a rice cooker in the background of the kitchen and no shoes inside the house. It represents Westernised Asian families, which I can relate to all too well and it's refreshing to see this on screen.

Lana Condor and Jenny Han

These two movies have already received so much love, and it is all so well-deserved. Crazy Rich Asians should still be playing in theatres and is already confirmed for a sequel! To All The Boys I've Loved Before is on Netflix and is also rumored to have a sequel! Let's continue to give them love. We need more of this. We should continue to make these kind of movies and make casts of colour normal. Support the Asian community. Asian actors, Asian singers, Asian writers, you name it. Our voices have been suppressed for far too long. It's time to get loud.

Love, Faith

P.S. A TV show that is also definitely worth checking out is Fresh Off The Boat! It stars Constance Wu who plays a mother living with her Chinese family in America in the 1990s. It includes super fun and light humour and does an absolutely great job of representing Chinese families.