Saving Face

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1:52

Saving Face

R

Released May 27, 2005

1h 36m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

90 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Wil (Michelle Krusiec) is a lesbian, but she not dare tell her widowed mother, Hwei-lan (Joan Chen), or her very traditional grandparents. She's shocked, however, to find out she's not the only one in her family with romantic secrets when she learns that her 48-year-old mother is pregnant. Unwilling to reveal who the father is, Hwei-lan is kicked out of her parents' home and must move in with Wil, which puts a strain on Wil's budding relationship with openly gay Vivian (Lynn Chen).

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Critics Consensus

A charming tale of a love affair that overcomes cultural taboos.

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Saving Face is a coming-out story that elicits plenty of universal truths.

Sep 1, 2025

Full Review

Terry Nguyen

Vox

Why do rom-coms always get happy endings, and not family dramas? With Saving Face, Wu dares to ask: Why not both?

May 4, 2022

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Alyx Vesey

Bitch Media

Saving Face could get really preachy if it wanted to. But that it addresses multiple concerns with a light touch is one of its virtues.

Jan 11, 2021

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Rudie Obias

Battleship Pretension

Saving Face is charming and witty, while it has a lot to say about the relationship between mothers and their daughters — through the lens of an immigrant’s story.

Aug 29, 2025

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

The romantic comedy has long been maligned for being over the top and unrealistic. Saving Face never suffers from this. Wu’s characters feel real and true, and I am glad to have gotten to know them.

Feb 28, 2024

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Steven Lindsey

Texas Triangle/TXT

There are moments that are laugh-out-loud, but more importantly, there are times you can't pry the smile off your face simply in anticipation of what comes next.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 8, 2023

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Jamaliah m

i love this movie so much！！！

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

Full Review

STEPHANIE M

absulute heat it was fire

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Incredible acting, dialogue, and story. Loved this universally relatable portrayal of a mother and daughter, as well as the complexity of love!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

One of my favorite portrayals of sapphic romance!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

Super cringy, but relatable...

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/27/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Really beautiful story. Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen have great on screen chemistry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Alice Wu

Director

Michelle Krusiec

Wil

Joan Chen

Ma

Lynn Chen

Vivian

Jessica Hecht

Randi

Ato Essandoh

Jay

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78%

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Transamerica

77%

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Saving Face: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Wil (Michelle Krusiec) is a lesbian, but she not dare tell her widowed mother, Hwei-lan (Joan Chen), or her very traditional grandparents. She's shocked, however, to find out she's not the only one in her family with romantic secrets when she learns that her 48-year-old mother is pregnant. Unwilling to reveal who the father is, Hwei-lan is kicked out of her parents' home and must move in with Wil, which puts a strain on Wil's budding relationship with openly gay Vivian (Lynn Chen).

Director: Alice Wu
Producer: James Lassiter, Will Smith, Teddy Zee
Screenwriter: Alice Wu
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Forensic Films, Overbrook Entertainment, GreeneStreet Films Inc.
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 27, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Runtime: 1h 36m

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