Dim Sum Funeral

2008 film by Anna Chi

November 2008 (2008-11)

AFI Fest

Running time

95 minutesLanguagesEnglish, Mandarin

Dim Sum Funeral is a 2008 comedy/drama film directed by Anna Chi and starring Kelly Hu, Bai Ling, Russell Wong, Steph Song and Talia Shire.^[1]

Premise

After their mother dies, four Chinese-American siblings return to their Seattle home.^[2] As their mother wanted a traditional seven-day funeral, the estranged siblings stay the week and deal with their issues.^[3]

Cast

Xiao family

Lisa Lu as Mrs. Xiao, the matriarch
Julia Nickson as Elizabeth ("Liz"), a daughter of Mrs. Xiao
Russell Wong as Alexander ("Alex"), the son of Mrs. Xiao
Françoise Yip as Victoria, a daughter of Mrs. Xiao
Steph Song as Meimei, a daughter of Mrs. Xiao

Others

Talia Shire as Viola, a Jewish friend of Mrs. Xiao
Bai Ling as Dede, Meimei's girlfriend
Curtis Lum as Bruce Lee, a Buddhist monk and prospective sperm donor to Meimei and Dede
Adrian Hough as Michael, Liz's husband
Isaah Brown as Jason, Victoria's son
Tseng Chang as Zhou Lin, a friend of Mrs. Xiao, an eminent Chinese pianist, and Meimei's father
Kelly Hu as Cindy, Alex's wife and a former Miss Taiwan
Valerie Tian as Emily, Alex's daughter

Reception

Dim Sum Funeral was widely panned by critics.^[4] Fionnuala Halligan of Screen Daily noted the film's "uneven tone", but she commended the set design and decoration by James Willcock.^[5]

References

^ Goldstein, Gary (June 7, 2009). "Anna Chi, 'Dim Sum Funeral'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
^ Chang, Justin (June 10, 2009). "Dim Sum Funeral". Variety. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
^ Farber, Stephen (November 11, 2008). "Film Review: Dim Sum Funeral". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "Dim Sum Funeral". Rotten Tomatoes.
^ Halligan, Fionnuala (7 October 2008). "Dim Sum Funeral". Screen Daily.