Saving Face

In this movie Saving Face, Wil lives with her single pregnant mother. These two tend to keep to theirselves as they try to "save the face" of themselves and family because they are not very traditional and assimilating to the american culture.

The mother is 48 years old, single, pregnant unknowing of the father and her father or as we know in the film as grandpa finds great disappointment in her. This is very against typical Chinese tradition. Grandpa calls her his biggest disgrace and treats her poorly for it. Then Ma is in love with a much younger man but tries to hide her love by marrying someone else that is more her age to stay with tradition and please her elders. At the wedding Wil barges in after reading a love note knowing that her mother can't marry him. Wil is more assimilated and understands that tradition isn't the most important part of marriage, but it is being with someone you love and want to spend your life with.

Wil is a surgeon, and is a lesbian who falls in love with Vivian. Both of these are very unlike typical Chinese tradition as the woman typically stays at home and works around the house. This relationship is kept behind closed doors for a very long time in fear of being judged about their love for the same sex. Chinese culture it is very meaningful to become married young and provide grandchildren. Wil finally makes her love public for Vivian as they assimilate and realize it is about being happy in american culture.