Living in Manhattan, Wilhelmina (Wil) and her single mother, live private lives away from the cruel reality; afraid of being judged and excluded by the important people around them. Wil, is a surgeon who falls in love with Vivian; a beautiful dancer, while her 48 year-old single mother is secretly in love with a much younger man. Both of these women break the status quo or the "general stereotype" of an Asian woman.
As the story unfolds, we can see the clash of cultures between the American and Asian culture, as well as the generational pulls and pressures that each of these women face within their age frame. As Ma becomes pregnant, her father disowns her and tells her that until she finds a man who will care for her and her baby, he will not take her back. The audience can clearly see Asian culture and traditions shown through the shaming of Ma for becoming pregnant. In a scene where Ma's dad is scolding her, he yells; "you don't think people will laugh at me?" he argues to Ma that although she is free to throw her reputation away, through her actions, she is consequently throwing away her father's reputation too. He yells at Ma saying "your reputation still comes back to me". This film's title; Saving Face is a clear metaphor for the term model minority myth that people have about Asians. This idea that Asian Americans are hardworking, intelligent, and successful; perhaps an idea Asians have also adapted as their own identity over the years, is shown through Ma and Will who go against this myth and traditional-Asian-wife-like-identity. Because of this, they are automatically shameful and dishonorable women in their culture.
Throughout the film, these two women show ways in which they try to assimilate to the American culture. Although both continue to attend Chinese gatherings and Ma tries to follow Chinese traditions; such as arranged marriage, the pressure they receive to live certain lives is just way too much for them to handle. Ma who is 48, eventually goes against her father's will and authority by not marrying a man he has set for her. Wil on the other hand, is a lesbian Chinese woman who does not fit in with the stereotypical Asian women what so ever. As an Asian American; "not wanting to return home and adapt instead to this country", she instead pursues an education (Takaki, 423). She is born and raised in the states which means she is used to the American ways and the American lifestyles. It is difficult for her to even have her mom come over and live at her house. Wil only wants to be an independent women; represented in the American culture. Wil is "passing", as she tries to cross the color line and gain acceptance as a white person, as a surgeon.
The differences between Ma and Wil's generations is shown through their actions and behaviors. Ma is more of a traditional Chinese woman who stays at home, cooks, cleans, plays Chinese music, and meditates. Wil on the other hand; representing the younger and newer generations of Asians in America, is a hardworking, brilliant and successful surgeon, not really connected to her Chinese traditions. Takaki explains how "the second-wave newcomers are strikingly different from the earlier immigrants" (420) meaning that there were differences in chances of status and education between the earlier and the later Asian generation that set them apart.
Though both Ma and Wil face differential rationalization; Wil within her job and Ma in the movie shop, they still try to hold on to their roots to the best of their ability however in the end, in order to be happy, they have to go against what they have been taught.
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