ROSEMEAD
DIRECTED BY ERIC LIN
I went into Rosemead completely blind; having no prior knowledge of the real life story this film was based upon. I was immediately shook by how Lucy Liu, yes that Lucy Liu was completely unrecognizable. Not only from her physical presentation, but her dialect, her mannerisms. She completely transformed into the role of real life grieving mother, Lai Hang.
Based upon the Los Angeles Times article ‘ A dying mother’s plan: Buy a gun. Rent a hotel room. Kill her son. ‘ Rosemead chronicles a mother grappling with the death of her husband, the news that she is terminally ill, and the reality that she would be leaving behind a teenage son, who’s schizophrenia is progressing.
This film deals with very taboo topic of mental health within families, and in this case how its dealt within the asian - american community. Spoiler alert: its not. Liu’s character of Eileen struggles very much with the denial of her sons illness, and the fear of what will happen once she will pass away in the next few months.
Rosemead deals with intense grief, denial, mental health, and the drastic measures ones will take to protect the ones they love the most.
Liu joined us at the Museum Of Modern Art to talk about the film, and the communication barrier cultures can have on mental illness.
“ This film was made to understand other cultures and other parts of society. Even if you’re living in an all Italian community, often times you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors. It’s easy to judge what’s happening, or what they look like. or , look who’s coming in, look who’s going out, why are they wearing the same clothes? This is ripped, and that is falling apart.”
“ We don’t really know what the struggle is going on inside. Often times we forget, there is struggle. If anything ( this film ) will give you an element of compassion to either ask the question, or not to judge.”
“ in other communities they come together to heal, they don’t isolate. Where Irene was at the end of the film, was in such a lonely place. The loneliness of that act and her mentality, and to want to disappear. How horrible it must be to exist, and then to not exist; or even to take everyone with you.”
“ This is a film that you talk about afterwards; and its a discussion. Often times, in my family, we didn’t talk about feelings, and we weren’t encouraged to express. In our ( Asian - American ) community what we say first is “ have you eaten?” it’s not “ how are you?” Food is a way in, but it’s not a way through the other part of it.”
Rosemead is now streaming and available on demand on all platforms.
