Message from mcervantes

Eat Drink Man Woman

Sihung Lung, the center of the film portrays Master Chu, a famous chef in Taiwan who is widowed and deeply loves his three daughters. They are young adults, however, and fiercely independent…..just like him. He does not know how to express his love, but he obligates them to come to his home for his banquet dinner every weekend.

The film has the most delicious looking meals. It makes your mouth water and the desire to eat these sumptuous meals.

The daughters don't like the ritual, referring to it as 'the Sunday torture.'

The most strong-minded of these, his eldest daughter, is a school teacher. After many years of disinterest in men, she suddenly pursues a handsome, free-spirited volleyball coach and, after their marriage, bullies him into becoming a timid, devout Christian.

The youngest steals the boyfriend away from a college schoolmate. She later creates quite a stir at the family dinner when she quietly says, 'I have an announcement; I'm going to have a baby.'

The story, however, centers on the complicated, loving relationship between Master Chu and his third daughter, Jia-Chien, a successful airline executive. Like him in many ways, she always had wanted to be a master chef, but he bowed to the tradition against women in this profession.

After a traumatic love affair with a philanderer, she almost decides to take a job promotion with the airline and relocate to Europe. Yet, she stays on in Taiwan to help her father recover from the death of his fellow chef and best friend.

Then she tries to find a new wife for him, unwisely targeting an obnoxious older woman who lives nearby. However, he is the next to make a startling family announcement that he is engaged to be married instead to the woman's daughter!!

This modern tale proceeds to take many delightful twists and turns. At the end, Master Chu and Jia-Chien learn to understand each other. He recognizes that she should be the next master chef of his restaurant. She comprehends the depth of his special love for her. As the camera fades away, they address each other simply as 'daughter' and 'father.' They have no more 'announcements' …only with honest and open declarations of love.
Wonderful movie, I would recommend it to everyone.
I would use this film with students to demonstrate the complexities of life and how families relate to one another and how we all can come to understandings in life in order to be happy.
edited by mcervantes on 8/31/2016
edited by mcervantes on 8/31/2016