Catfish in Black Bean Sauce

PG-13

Released Jun 9, 2000

1h 59m

Comedy

Drama

List

47%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

64%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

An offbeat dramatic comedy about an African American couple who adopt two orphans, a brother and sister from a Vietnamese refugee camp. After twenty-two years, Mal, the sister locates their birth mother, who was separated from her children during the war, and brings her to America, while Dwayne, the brother has conflicting feelings concerning the new arrival. The reunion triggers a series of events, which brings deeply submerged resentments and misconceptions to the surface.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2/5

Feb 7, 2001

Full Review

Bob Graham

San Francisco Chronicle

Rated: 3/4

Feb 7, 2001

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 2/4

Feb 7, 2001

Full Review

David Noh

Film Journal International

Initially creates a delightfully diverse world in which no one is really as they seem to appear.

Jan 5, 2007

Full Review

MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

By turns whimsical and moving, Catfish touches on deeply emotional issues with refreshing and startling honesty...

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

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Georgan G

I wanted to like this movie, but it never got off the ground. The comedy was pretty lame and the drama was childish. Didn't understand how everyone ended up happy in the end.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really enjoyed this movie. I like the topic that it broaches, the tension between American Black and Asian culture, and I like the way it approaches that topic, a black couple from "da hood" adopts and does a fine job of raising 2 Asian children. I think this is a very worthwhile film that fell under the radar of too many.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Me and my Nieces and nephews use to love to watch this movie, it brings back a lot of great memories. I'm a big fan of Sanaa Lathan !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A lovely, funny movie, enjoy!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There is some good material here, and the tension between cultures analyzed here is one that is intriguing in that it often goes unconsidered. But, the script here is beyond unpolished. There are 50,000 subplots in the film, the vast majority of which are either unnecessary or unresolved at the conclusion. The lead romantic story is nothing but very awkward exchanges between actors that don't seem to click. Very jumbled.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I love this movie.. i love how the cultures come together it showed me something hollywood never discusses in a good way asians and black and white people relations and living together positively

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Chi Muoi Lo

Director

Paul Winfield

Harold Williams

Mary Alice

Dolores Williams

Chi Muoi Lo

Dwayne Williams

Lauren Tom

Mai

Kiều Chinh

Thanh

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Synopsis

An offbeat dramatic comedy about an African American couple who adopt two orphans, a brother and sister from a Vietnamese refugee camp. After twenty-two years, Mal, the sister locates their birth mother, who was separated from her children during the war, and brings her to America, while Dwayne, the brother has conflicting feelings concerning the new arrival. The reunion triggers a series of events, which brings deeply submerged resentments and misconceptions to the surface.

Director: Chi Muoi Lo
Producer: Chi Muoi Lo
Screenwriter: Chi Muoi Lo
Distributor: Phaedra Cinema
Production Co: Black Hawk Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 9, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 25, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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