Author(s): Ben Miller
Location: Canyon, Texas
“Made in Taiwan"
Written and Directed by Stephen Chow
Produced by Ang Lee & Stephen Chow
Principal Cast:
Zhang Ziyi as Kai Yin-Han
Stephen Chow as Chow Han
Ken Watanabe as Chung Yin
Michelle Yeoh as Rei Yin
Sook-Yin Lee as Cindy
Julia Hsu as Li Yin
Suzuka Ohgo as Zhang Yin
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Jaeho Yi
Tagline: "The maximum use of minimum wage"
Synopsis: In modern day Taiwan, all six members the Yin family works in a sweatshop that manufactures shoes. The family consists of the patriarch, Chung, the mother, Rei, three daughters, Kai, Li and Zhang, and Kai’s husband, Chow. Despite their mere $1.62 an hour wages, all members work at least nine hours a day and together they manage. They live on a farm and grow most of their food. Chung makes sure all family members stick to a tight budget so money doesn’t get short.
Kai is not happy being married to Chow. The arranged marriage pitted the 40-year old Chow with the 22-year old Kai. Despite their differences, Kai remains optimistic and content with the life she has. One day, as all of the family gets to work, their boss Jaeho Yi, announces that due to mandates by the U.S. Congress, the American shoe company who sells the shoes must raise wages to $6.25 an hour for each worker. Jaeho expected a raise as well, but he is informed he will remain at $6.75 an hour. Knowing the Yim family well, Jaeho becomes jealous of their impending success.
As the weeks pass, Chung begins to get cocky with his newly-acquired money and wants to better to his life. He hires a half-Taiwanese, half-American maid named Cindy. She is coy and doesn’t speak by choice, but is willing to work. Chung is paying her $1.62 an hour. Kai attempts to warn her father of the dangers of spending money, but blinded by the “wealth,” he becomes obsessed with high class and buys a new tuxedo complete with tail, top hat and monocle. He has no where to go, but wants to feel important while sitting in their home.
Rei focuses her money on beautification and ways to enhance her sexuality towards her husband. She takes her money to a “reputable” beauty salon and lingerie store. She returns to the farm and shows up in front of Chung with a large, puke green teddy with her face looking like a little girl’s doll. Chung proceeds to have sex with his wife, but unbeknownst to Rei, is semi-repulsed by her appearance.
Zhang puts her money towards savings accounts and looks into investing. She believes that the money will never leave and all she wants to do is get more. Li puts her money towards the efforts of finding a husband. Despite Kai’s unhappiness, her marriage to Chow seems happy on the exterior to Li. She begins looking for older men and offering money to marry them. Though she has yet no offers, she is optimistic.
Kai begins to worry about the entire family’s view to their new found “wealth.” Everyday, she endures Zhang’s financial advice, Li’s questions about men, her parents’ new look and she finds out that Chow leaves everyday to buy hookers, but they will not cooperate with the money he has. Convinced that more money will buy him what he wants, he goes into cohorts with Zhang. Jaeho shows up one day and sees everything happening in the Yin household and develops a rivalry with Chang. Every time they see each other, they try to convince they are higher class than the other.
One day, after attempting to convince the family to not be frivolous with their money, Kai goes to the barn, exhausted. Cindy incidentally comes into the barn and sits next to Kai. Laying all her feeling out in a burst of energy, Kai explains her feelings of her family to Cindy. Taking it all in, Cindy speaks and develops a plan with Kai to end it all.
The next morning, no longer doing any work herself, Rei delegates work to Cindy as soon as she arrives. Cindy speaks to Rei for the first time and demands higher pay for the work she is doing. After attempting to talk it through, Rei says no and Cindy leaves. The next few days, the house becomes filthy, forcing Chang to visit Cindy and ask her back. They raise her wages to $4.50 an hour, but Cindy will not leave the house when she gets to work the next day. Kai begins to delegate Cindy’s chores, but they are small and easy, while time consuming. When Chang pays Cindy, he realizes he does not have enough and forces him to ask the other family members to chip in. This continues for weeks and it nearly brings the family to its original economic status. Three days later, the sweatshop goes back on its wages and returns them to their original price.
The family is devastated and can no longer hire Cindy. With her wages accumulated, the maid helps the family return to their original condition. Each member of the family continues to long for their “riches,” but they realize they are happier as a family than when they were when they controlled their own money. Zhang and Chow’s accounts remained open and the family saves up to insure their future.
Kai and Chow begin to find common ground in their marriage and begin to cohabitate well. Li finds a younger boy and is set to marry. Cindy remains in touch with the family and occasionally cleans up for old time’s sake.
What the press would say:
An eclectic mix of Oriental actors brings this comedy ensemble to the forefront. The sweatshop-working Yin family is an intriguing stew of humor, pathos and grief. Zhang Ziyi stars as the eldest sister in the family and the only sane one in the bunch. When the Yin’s get their wages raised, they all react and overreact in different ways. Ziyi acts as the “yin” to every other family member’s yang. Staying steady and graceful, she is driven almost to the edge, until a burst of energy and lightning fast dialogue come through in a hilarious scene with the family maid (Sook-Yin Lee) in a barn, expressing her continuing patience that has reached its end. All members of the family provide strong supporting work, especially Michelle Yeoh and Ken Watanabe. Playing the matriarch of the family, she uses her new money to appeal to her husband, which doesn’t necessarily work like it should. As the husband, Watanabe provides a look at what a power struggle between him and his boss (the great Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) would look like if each made an attempt at high society. Writer and director Stephen Chow, usually known for his action movies, conducts a taught script and puts together what could have easily been a chaotic mix of dramatic actors trying to be funny. They do try, but they succeed. This could be the best film of the year, and is most definitely the best comedy.
For Your Consideration:
Best Picture, Ang Lee & Stephen Chow
Best Director, Stephen Chow
Best Actress, Zhang Ziyi
Best Supporting Actor, Ken Watanabe
Best Supporting Actor, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Best Supporting Actress, Michelle Yeoh
Best Original Screenplay, Stephen Chow
Location: Canyon, Texas
“Made in Taiwan"
Written and Directed by Stephen Chow
Produced by Ang Lee & Stephen Chow
Principal Cast:
Zhang Ziyi as Kai Yin-Han
Stephen Chow as Chow Han
Ken Watanabe as Chung Yin
Michelle Yeoh as Rei Yin
Sook-Yin Lee as Cindy
Julia Hsu as Li Yin
Suzuka Ohgo as Zhang Yin
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Jaeho Yi
Tagline: "The maximum use of minimum wage"
Synopsis: In modern day Taiwan, all six members the Yin family works in a sweatshop that manufactures shoes. The family consists of the patriarch, Chung, the mother, Rei, three daughters, Kai, Li and Zhang, and Kai’s husband, Chow. Despite their mere $1.62 an hour wages, all members work at least nine hours a day and together they manage. They live on a farm and grow most of their food. Chung makes sure all family members stick to a tight budget so money doesn’t get short.
Kai is not happy being married to Chow. The arranged marriage pitted the 40-year old Chow with the 22-year old Kai. Despite their differences, Kai remains optimistic and content with the life she has. One day, as all of the family gets to work, their boss Jaeho Yi, announces that due to mandates by the U.S. Congress, the American shoe company who sells the shoes must raise wages to $6.25 an hour for each worker. Jaeho expected a raise as well, but he is informed he will remain at $6.75 an hour. Knowing the Yim family well, Jaeho becomes jealous of their impending success.
As the weeks pass, Chung begins to get cocky with his newly-acquired money and wants to better to his life. He hires a half-Taiwanese, half-American maid named Cindy. She is coy and doesn’t speak by choice, but is willing to work. Chung is paying her $1.62 an hour. Kai attempts to warn her father of the dangers of spending money, but blinded by the “wealth,” he becomes obsessed with high class and buys a new tuxedo complete with tail, top hat and monocle. He has no where to go, but wants to feel important while sitting in their home.
Rei focuses her money on beautification and ways to enhance her sexuality towards her husband. She takes her money to a “reputable” beauty salon and lingerie store. She returns to the farm and shows up in front of Chung with a large, puke green teddy with her face looking like a little girl’s doll. Chung proceeds to have sex with his wife, but unbeknownst to Rei, is semi-repulsed by her appearance.
Zhang puts her money towards savings accounts and looks into investing. She believes that the money will never leave and all she wants to do is get more. Li puts her money towards the efforts of finding a husband. Despite Kai’s unhappiness, her marriage to Chow seems happy on the exterior to Li. She begins looking for older men and offering money to marry them. Though she has yet no offers, she is optimistic.
Kai begins to worry about the entire family’s view to their new found “wealth.” Everyday, she endures Zhang’s financial advice, Li’s questions about men, her parents’ new look and she finds out that Chow leaves everyday to buy hookers, but they will not cooperate with the money he has. Convinced that more money will buy him what he wants, he goes into cohorts with Zhang. Jaeho shows up one day and sees everything happening in the Yin household and develops a rivalry with Chang. Every time they see each other, they try to convince they are higher class than the other.
One day, after attempting to convince the family to not be frivolous with their money, Kai goes to the barn, exhausted. Cindy incidentally comes into the barn and sits next to Kai. Laying all her feeling out in a burst of energy, Kai explains her feelings of her family to Cindy. Taking it all in, Cindy speaks and develops a plan with Kai to end it all.
The next morning, no longer doing any work herself, Rei delegates work to Cindy as soon as she arrives. Cindy speaks to Rei for the first time and demands higher pay for the work she is doing. After attempting to talk it through, Rei says no and Cindy leaves. The next few days, the house becomes filthy, forcing Chang to visit Cindy and ask her back. They raise her wages to $4.50 an hour, but Cindy will not leave the house when she gets to work the next day. Kai begins to delegate Cindy’s chores, but they are small and easy, while time consuming. When Chang pays Cindy, he realizes he does not have enough and forces him to ask the other family members to chip in. This continues for weeks and it nearly brings the family to its original economic status. Three days later, the sweatshop goes back on its wages and returns them to their original price.
The family is devastated and can no longer hire Cindy. With her wages accumulated, the maid helps the family return to their original condition. Each member of the family continues to long for their “riches,” but they realize they are happier as a family than when they were when they controlled their own money. Zhang and Chow’s accounts remained open and the family saves up to insure their future.
Kai and Chow begin to find common ground in their marriage and begin to cohabitate well. Li finds a younger boy and is set to marry. Cindy remains in touch with the family and occasionally cleans up for old time’s sake.
What the press would say:
An eclectic mix of Oriental actors brings this comedy ensemble to the forefront. The sweatshop-working Yin family is an intriguing stew of humor, pathos and grief. Zhang Ziyi stars as the eldest sister in the family and the only sane one in the bunch. When the Yin’s get their wages raised, they all react and overreact in different ways. Ziyi acts as the “yin” to every other family member’s yang. Staying steady and graceful, she is driven almost to the edge, until a burst of energy and lightning fast dialogue come through in a hilarious scene with the family maid (Sook-Yin Lee) in a barn, expressing her continuing patience that has reached its end. All members of the family provide strong supporting work, especially Michelle Yeoh and Ken Watanabe. Playing the matriarch of the family, she uses her new money to appeal to her husband, which doesn’t necessarily work like it should. As the husband, Watanabe provides a look at what a power struggle between him and his boss (the great Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) would look like if each made an attempt at high society. Writer and director Stephen Chow, usually known for his action movies, conducts a taught script and puts together what could have easily been a chaotic mix of dramatic actors trying to be funny. They do try, but they succeed. This could be the best film of the year, and is most definitely the best comedy.
For Your Consideration:
Best Picture, Ang Lee & Stephen Chow
Best Director, Stephen Chow
Best Actress, Zhang Ziyi
Best Supporting Actor, Ken Watanabe
Best Supporting Actor, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Best Supporting Actress, Michelle Yeoh
Best Original Screenplay, Stephen Chow
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