The life histories of four East Asian women and their daughters reflect and guide each other.
Director:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Kieu Chinh | ... |
Suyuan - The Mother
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| Tsai Chin | ... |
Lindo - The Mother
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| France Nuyen | ... |
Ying-Ying - The Mother
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| Lisa Lu | ... |
An-Mei - The Mother
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| Ming-Na Wen | ... |
June - The Daughter
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| Tamlyn Tomita | ... |
Waverly - The Daughter
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| Lauren Tom | ... |
Lena - The Daughter
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| Rosalind Chao | ... |
Rose - The Daughter
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| Chao Li Chi | ... |
June's Father
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Melanie Chang | ... |
June - Age 9
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| Victor Wong | ... |
Old Chong
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Lisa Connolly | ... |
Singing Girl
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| Vu Mai | ... |
Waverly - Age 6-9
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Ying Wu | ... |
Lindo - Age 4
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| Meijuan Xi | ... |
Lindo's Mother
(as Mei Juan Xi)
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Guo-Rong Chin | ... |
Huang Tai Tai
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Hsu Ying Li | ... |
Matchmaker
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| Irene Ng | ... |
Lindo - Age 15
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Qugen Cao | ... |
Lindo's Father
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Anie Wang | ... |
Lindo's Brother
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Yan Lu | ... |
Lindo's Brother 2
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Boffeng Liang | ... |
Pedicab Driver
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William Gong | ... |
Tyan Yu
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Diana C. Weng | ... |
Lindo's Servant
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Yuan-Ho C. Koo | ... |
Matchmaker's Friend
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Zhi Xiang Xia | ... |
Huang Tai Tai's Servant
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Dan Yu | ... |
Servant's Boyfriend
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| Christopher Rich | ... |
Rich
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| Nicholas Guest | ... |
Hairdresser
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Kim Chew | ... |
Mrs. Chew
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Jason Yee | ... |
Waverly's Brother
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Ya Shan Wu | ... |
Lindo's Husband
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Samantha Haw | ... |
Shoshana
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| Feihong Yu | ... |
Ying Ying - Age 16-25
(as Yu Fei Hong)
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| Russell Wong | ... |
Lin Xiao
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| Grace Chang | ... |
Lin-Xiao's Opera Singer
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| Michael Paul Chan | ... |
Harold
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| Philip Moon | ... |
Ken
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Melissa Tan | ... |
Jennifer
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| Yi Ding | ... |
An Mei - Age 9
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Emmy Yu | ... |
An Mei - Age 4
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| Vivian Wu | ... |
An Mei's Mother
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| Lucille Soong | ... |
Popo
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You Ming Chong | ... |
An Mei's Uncle
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Fen Tian | ... |
Auntie #1
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Lena Zhou | ... |
Auntie #2
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Jeanie Lee Wu | ... |
Auntie #3
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| Andrew McCarthy | ... |
Ted
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Jack Ford | ... |
Mr. Jordan
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| Diane Baker | ... |
Mrs. Jordan
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| Tian-Ming Wu | ... |
Wu Tsing
(as Tian Ming Wu)
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| Elizabeth Sung | ... |
Second Wife
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Eva Shen | ... |
An Mei's Nanny
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Sheng Yu Ma | ... |
Suyuan's Twin Daughter 1
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Sheng Wei Ma | ... |
Suyuan's Twin Daughter 2
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Eric Chun | ... |
Family Member (uncredited)
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Vicki Jean Clark | ... |
Pedestrian (uncredited)
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Howard Fong | ... |
Baker (uncredited)
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Tony Goldmark | ... |
Talent Show Kid (uncredited)
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| Maggie Grant | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Jody Millard | ... |
Baggage Handler (uncredited)
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| Amy Tan | ... |
Guest at House Party (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Wayne Wang | ||
Written by
| Amy Tan | ... | (novel) |
| Amy Tan | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Ron Bass | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Ron Bass | ... | producer |
| Jessinta Liu | ... | associate producer: China (as Jessinta Liu Fung Ping) |
| Patrick Markey | ... | producer |
| Oliver Stone | ... | executive producer |
| Amy Tan | ... | producer |
| Wayne Wang | ... | producer |
| Janet Yang | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Rachel Portman | ||
Cinematography by
| Amir Mokri | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Maysie Hoy | ||
Editorial Department
| C.J. Appel | ... | assistant editor |
| Robert Dalva | ... | additional editing |
| Francey Grace | ... | post production supervisor |
| Scott Guitteau | ... | assistant editor |
| Gloria Kaiser | ... | color timer |
| Debbie Lum | ... | post production assistant |
| Theresa Repola Mohammed | ... | negative cutter |
| Sean Thomas | ... | post production assistant |
| Stefanie Wiseman | ... | assistant editor |
| Ruby Yang | ... | first assistant editor |
| Samuel H. Hinckley | ... | apprentice editor (uncredited) |
| Joe Parisella | ... | colorist (uncredited) |
| Lisa Rodgers | ... | post-production coordinator (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Risa Bramon Garcia | ||
| Heidi Levitt | ||
Production Design by
| Donald Graham Burt | ||
Art Direction by
| Diana Kunce | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jim Poynter | ||
Costume Design by
| Lydia Tanji | ||
Makeup Department
| Carrie Angland | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Terry Baliel | ... | hair stylist |
| Carol Hight | ... | assistant hair stylist (as Carol A. Hight) |
| Guofang Ma | ... | makeup artist: China (as Guo Fang Ma) |
| Valli O'Reilly | ... | makeup designer |
| Yun Xia Tan | ... | makeup assistant: China |
| Midy Yuan | ... | hairdresser: China |
| Monika Maka | ... | additional hair stylist (uncredited) |
| Nancie Marsalis | ... | additional makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Diane Batson-Smith | ... | production manager (as Diane B. Smith) |
| Carole Fontana | ... | production supervisor / unit production manager: China |
| Chu Liang Xu | ... | production manager: China |
| Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt | ... | production supervisor (uncredited) |
| Michael Tinger | ... | post production supervisor (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Matias Alvarez | ... | second second assistant director |
| Marcei A. Brown | ... | second assistant director (as Marcei A. Brubaker) |
| Cub Chien | ... | first assistant director: China (as Kong Hon 'Cub' Chien) |
| Josh King | ... | first assistant director |
| De Gen Yang | ... | first assistant director: China |
Art Department
| John Beuttler | ... | scenic artist |
| Angela D. Chou | ... | art department coordinator |
| Qui Liang Dai | ... | props: China |
| Stephen J. Gardner | ... | assistant property master |
| Zhi Bai Jin | ... | props: China |
| Chris H. Kelly | ... | construction coordinator |
| Christopher Kelly | ... | construction coordinator |
| Donald E. Kerns | ... | construction foreman |
| Josh Koral | ... | property master |
| Jianjun Li | ... | art director: China (as Jian Jun Li) |
| Kwan Kit Mok | ... | art director: China (as Kwan Kit 'Eddy' Kwok) |
| Ke Wen Sang | ... | props: China |
| Elizabeth Tullis | ... | scenic artist |
| Don Watson | ... | leadman |
| Yiu Fai 'Thomas' Wong | ... | assistant art director: China |
| Yi Hua Zhang | ... | construction foreman: China |
| Joanne Desmond | ... | construction buyer (uncredited) |
| Robert L. Peden | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
| Don Weinger | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| William H. Angarola | ... | sound effects editor (as Bill Angarola) |
| James Ashwill | ... | foley mixer (as Jim Ashwill) |
| Carmen Baker | ... | assistant sound editor (as Carmen Hocson) |
| Athonia Cappelli | ... | foley editor (as Tony Cappelli) |
| Tim Chau | ... | sound design: M.P.S.E. |
| Curtis Choy | ... | sound mixer |
| Richard C. Franklin | ... | sound effects editor (as Rick Franklin) |
| Albert Gasser | ... | sound effects editor |
| Gary Gegan | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Kimberly Lambert Gibson | ... | dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lambert) |
| Lewis Goldstein | ... | dialogue editor (as Lew Goldstein) |
| Gary A. Hecker | ... | foley artist (as Gary Hecker) |
| Devon Heffley Curry | ... | adr supervisor (as Devon Curry) |
| Eileen Horta | ... | adr editor |
| Matthew Iadarola | ... | re-recording mixer |
| George Leong | ... | boom operator |
| Bobby Mackston | ... | dialogue editor |
| Dan O'Connell | ... | foley artist |
| Jeffrey R. Payne | ... | assistant sound editor (as Jeff Payne) |
| Charleen Richards | ... | adr mixer |
| John Rotondi | ... | engineer |
| Carolann Sanchez-Shapiro | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Paul Timothy Carden | ... | adr supervisor (uncredited) / dialogue supervisor (uncredited) |
| Tim Chau | ... | supervising sound editor (uncredited) |
| T.W. Davis | ... | voiceover mixer (uncredited) |
| Mary Jo Devenney | ... | sound mixer: additional photography (uncredited) |
| Nerses Gezalyan | ... | foley recordist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Bo Ze Jiao | ... | special effects assistant: China |
| Yong Long Lou | ... | special effects: China |
| Frank W. Tarantino | ... | special effects coordinator |
Visual Effects by
| Andres Gomez Zamora | ... | di colourist/editorial pipeline support: Ingenuity Studios |
| Rebecca Ramsey | ... | title producer: RGA/LA (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Vicki Beck | ... | camera trainee |
| Phil Bray | ... | still photographer |
| Marty Brenneis | ... | video playback operator |
| Cho Tak 'Joe' Chan | ... | key grip: China |
| Michael Chin | ... | camera operator: "b" camera |
| Rob Doumitt | ... | best boy electric |
| Pan Feng | ... | camera assistant: China |
| Jan M. Heyneker | ... | key grip |
| Tam Kar 'Jackie' Hing | ... | camera assistant: China |
| Rod M. Janusch | ... | rigging grip (as Rod Janusch) |
| Kenn Kashima | ... | video playback operator |
| Leo Loverro | ... | dolly grip (as Leo M. Loverro) |
| Bobby Powell | ... | rigging gaffer (as Robert Powell) |
| Mark Shankel | ... | best boy grip |
| Patrick Shellenberger | ... | gaffer |
| Chun Ah Fai Tsang | ... | best boy electrician: China |
| Kristopher Van Over | ... | second assistant camera |
| Patricia Van Over | ... | first assistant camera (as Patricia A. Van Over) |
| De Xiang Wang | ... | gaffer: China |
| Kenn Kashima | ... | video assist operator (uncredited) |
| Amir Mokri | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Max Pomerleau | ... | gaffer: second unit (uncredited) |
| Shane Sato | ... | gallery photographer (uncredited) |
| Lou Weinert | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Juel Bestrop | ... | special casting consultant |
| Laura Folger | ... | extras casting |
| Robin Gurland | ... | casting: San Francisco |
| Karen Johnston | ... | casting assistant |
| Mikella Kievman | ... | casting assistant |
| Ellen Parks | ... | casting associate: New York |
| Mary Vernieu | ... | casting associate: Los Angeles |
| Kate Dunn Kennedy | ... | casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Michael Becker | ... | costumer |
| Janet Chun | ... | costumer: China (as Siu Chun 'Janet' Chun) |
| Shu Lan Ding | ... | costume designer: China |
| Barbara Hartman-Jenichen | ... | costumer |
| Ko Tai Jin | ... | costumer: China |
| Barbara Kassal | ... | costume supervisor |
| Suk-Ying Tse | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Fu Zhen Zhang | ... | costumer: China |
Location Management
| Long Ma | ... | location manager: China |
| Jonathan Shedd | ... | location manager |
| Susannah Greason | ... | location assistant (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Bill Abbott | ... | music editor |
| Bob Bowman | ... | assistant music editor |
| Sandy De Crescent | ... | orchestra contractor |
| Stephan R. Goldman | ... | music supervisor |
| Joel Moss | ... | incidental music recorded by |
| John Neufeld | ... | orchestrations |
| Rachel Portman | ... | orchestrations |
| J.A.C. Redford | ... | orchestra conductor |
| John Richards | ... | music scoring mixer |
| Tom Boyd | ... | musician: oboe solo (uncredited) |
| Tom Brown | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
| Daniel Gold | ... | music prep (uncredited) |
| Jim Hoffman | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
| Steve Jones | ... | music coordinator (uncredited) |
| Ling Ling Li | ... | music consultant (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Joel Moss | ... | music recordist: incidental music (uncredited) |
| Robert Randles | ... | music consultant (uncredited) |
| Steven L. Smith | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
| Sebastian Toettcher | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Rick Winquest | ... | music recording engineer (uncredited) |
| Masakazu Yoshizawa | ... | musician: shakauhachi flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Leslie Park | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Steve Collins | ... | transportation coordinator (as Stephen F. Collins) |
| Tiny Trammell | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Nellie Adami | ... | production assistant (as Danelle Adami) |
| Clement Baque | ... | caterer: Entertainment Catering (as Clement Bacque) |
| Donnell Barnes | ... | additional studio teacher |
| Kimberly Burns | ... | production assistant (as Kim Burns) |
| Wai Kong Chan | ... | production assistant: China |
| Mishka Chen | ... | technical advisor: China |
| Anna Chi | ... | assistant: Mr. Wang China / assistant: Mr. Wang, Chinese |
| Vivian Chiang | ... | culinary consultant: Chinese |
| Sandy Fu Chin | ... | cultural consultant (as Professor Sandy Fu Chin) |
| Joseph Kung Shing Chow | ... | consultant: Hong Kong, China |
| Craig Comstock | ... | key production assistant |
| Carolyn Crimley | ... | studio teacher |
| Jonathan Cupp | ... | office production assistant |
| Wen Xia Fu | ... | assistant: Mr. Xu, China |
| Ol Lee Fung | ... | production assistant: China |
| Maxine Garcia | ... | production coordinator (as Maxine E. Garcia) |
| Cullen Gerst | ... | office production assistant |
| Brian Hofstetter | ... | office production assistant |
| Jin Xin Huang | ... | production assistant: China |
| Karen Hughes | ... | assistant: Mr. Markey / production coordinator: China |
| Mai Huynh | ... | office production assistant |
| Ji-Pin 'Jim' Jing | ... | production assistant: China |
| Waikee Kwok | ... | production assistant: China |
| Edward Lin | ... | production assistant (as Edward D. Lin) |
| Peggy Ling | ... | cultural consultant |
| Xan Ling | ... | production assistant: China |
| Yang Ling | ... | production assistant: China |
| Steven S. Liu | ... | office production assistant |
| Susan Muir | ... | production accountant |
| Alessandra Pasquino | ... | assistant: Mr. Wang |
| Ellen Pasternack | ... | unit publicist |
| Hua Qin | ... | production assistant: China |
| Hua Quian | ... | accounting translator: China |
| Jay Roberts | ... | second assistant accountant |
| Catherine Roehl | ... | first assistant accountant |
| Eva Shen | ... | script translator: Chinese |
| Michael Smuin | ... | choreographer |
| Raymond Tsui | ... | assistant: Ms. Liu, China (as Raymond Cheun Ming Tsui) |
| Lisa Wang | ... | production assistant |
| Suzanne Wang | ... | office production assistant |
| Jennifer Greisz West | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| James J. Wilhelm | ... | craft service |
| Sherwin Wong | ... | production assistant: China |
| Lai Fa Yuan | ... | production assistant: China |
| Jerry Zhang | ... | production assistant: China |
| Kyle Cooper | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
| Christer Hokanson | ... | main title editorial (uncredited) |
| Beverly Jusi | ... | post-production accountant (uncredited) |
| Azita Zendel | ... | assistant: Oliver Stone (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Gene Agress | ... | the producers wish to thank: Berkeley Mill & Furniture Co. |
| David A. Hayden | ... | the producers wish to thank: China legal counsel |
| Hsu Ying Li | ... | all of us will miss |
| Michael Morell | ... | the producers wish to thank: Evelyn's Antiques |
| Eddie Powell | ... | the producers wish to thank: I.A.T.S.E. Local 16 |
Production Companies
- Hollywood Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1993) (United States) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (1993) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1993) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Prooptiki (1993) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (1994) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (1994) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- C.B. Films S.A. (1994) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (1994) (France) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1994) (Australia) (theatrical) (through 'Buena Vista International')
- Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1994) (Australia) (VHS)
- Gativideo (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1994) (Germany) (VHS)
- Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1996) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1997) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
- Buena Vista International (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Buena Vista International (Germany) (DVD)
- EuroVideo (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (tv) (limited)
- Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Divisa Home Video (2014) (Spain) (DVD)
- Disney+ (2021) (Netherlands) (video) (VOD)
- Disney+ (2021) (United Kingdom) (video) (VOD)
- Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2013) (Brazil) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- China Film Co-Production Corporation (the producers wish to thank)
- Animal Stars (animal handlers)
- Armstrong & Hirsch (the producers wish to thank: legal counsel)
- Berkeley Mill & Furniture Co. (the producers wish to thank)
- Chinatown Resource Center (the producers wish to thank)
- Chinese Historical Society of America (the producers wish to thank)
- City of Berkeley, California (the producers wish to thank)
- City of San Francisco (the producers wish to thank)
- Dolby Laboratories (acknowledgement: IN SELECTED THEATRES)
- Eastman Film (PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED ON)
- Entertainment Catering (caterer)
- Evelyn's Antiques (the producers wish to thank)
- Gen De De (casting: China)
- Hollywood Records (SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE ON)
- Hollywood Records (acknowledgement: SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE ON HOLLYWOOD RECORDS)
- I.A.T.S.E. Local 16 (THE PRODUCERS WISH TO THANK)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (THE PRODUCERS WISH TO THANK)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA) (acknowledgement: #32643)
- Northwest Airlines (the producers wish to thank)
- Otto Nemenz International (ARRIFLEX CAMERAS BY)
- R/Greenberg Associates (West) (MAIN & END TITLES DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY)
- Republic of China (the producers wish to thank)
- Shanghai Film Studio (the producers wish to thank)
- Skywalker Sound (POST PRODUCTION SOUND SERVICES PROVIDED BY)
- THX Ltd. (acknowledgement: MIXED AND RECORDED IN A THX SOUND SYSTEM THEATRE)
- THX Sound System Theatre (MIXED AND RECORDED IN A)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Through a series of flashbacks, four young chinese women born in America and their respective mothers born in feudal China, explore their past. This search will help them understand their difficult mother/daughter relationship. Written by Robert Pare |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $11,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | In a 2018 NPR interview, executive producer Janet Yang recalled that director Wayne Wang (who she said usually had "the most lovely personality") lost his temper in a marketing meeting because the studio had presented him with the choices for posters to advertise the movie, and all of the options avoided showing the face of an Asian person. Either the designs were very abstract (for example, a decorative woodcut) or they were photos of the actresses' backs. See more » |
| Goofs | In the second chess game that Waverley plays as a child with the boy the chess board and the positions of the pieces are clearly shown on the screen. The boy moves his queen. Waverley makes a move and the boy responds with a move in which he captures a pawn and he says "check". The only possible move that the boy could have made at this point which would have resulted in an utterance of any kind would have been "checkmate" - Black queen supported by black bishop takes white pawn, Mate. After this Waverley makes another move which would have been impossible under the rules of the game because the game would have been over on black's last move. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in True Romance/The Ballad of Little Jo/Kalifornia/The Joy Luck Club/The Real McCoy (1993). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I Enjoy Being A Girl See more » |
| Quotes |
Suyuan:
That bad crab, only you tried to take it. Everybody else want best quality. You, your thinking different. Waverly took best-quality crab. You took worst, because you have best-quality heart. You have style no one can teach. Must be born this way. I see you. See more » |