ROSEMEAD

Rosemead grapples with the cultural stigma and stigma in a devastating true story that is handled with compassion and grace through Eric Lin’s direction and Marilyn Fu’s screenplay, but it is the magnificent performance of Lucy Liu that makes this film an unforgettable and heartbreaking experience.

Some films should carry a trigger warning because of the content in the film, as the real life tale that Rosemead adapts is a tragic tale that although is one that deserves to be told to raise awareness of how the lives of these two individuals got so desolate, is not an easy film to watch by any means. Based on a 2017 Los Angeles Times article, the film tells the story of a recent widow, Irene, trying to protect her son, Joe, from his dark obsessions while battling cancer who is forced to take drastic measures by life’s circumstances. Marilyn Fu’s screenplay tackles mental health head on with Joe’s struggles with schizophrenia, never for a second shying away from the dark places such a condition can send a young individual who feels alone in the world with a terrifying and heartbreaking honesty, and championed by a phenomenal performance from Lucy Liu in the lead role. But, it is the cultural exploration of the screenplay within the context of the Chinese American immigrant community that makes Rosemead stand out from other films revolving around teenage mental health.

As displayed in the film, mental health was not something that was readily recognized in the Chinese American immigrant community back in the mid 2010s when this story was unfolding. From Irene’s hesitancy to verbally acknowledge her son’s condition by name or speak of it to any one else, instead putting out the outward appearance that her son is excelling academically and athletically to avoid the gossip and judgement from the community who could not understand the immense struggles her and her son were facing, to her silence on her cancer diagnosis except for her one trusted friend, despite the existence of the community in the film, Fu’s writing highlights the loneliness faced by those individuals who cannot fit into the expected norms of that community.

It’s a heartbreaking story, especially when the audience sees the lengths that Irene goes to to protect her son’s image within that community, fearful of a government system that would not be able to protect him with her passing, and it is one that audiences may not be able to understand. The action that Irene takes is possibly the most disturbing and immoral action a parent can take, but Fu’s writing and Lin’s direction never lets Irene come across as a monster. Instead, the screenplay makes Irene deeply sympathetic, an individual that the audience’s heart can bleed for as they watch her endless efforts meet endless resistance, so by the story reaches its shocking narrative, there is an understanding in the audience that Irene truly felt trapped and saw no other way out for her and her son. It’s not a decision that the Lin or Fu expect the audience to morally accept, because how could they, but it is one that they can understand and give grace to Irene, and are left pondering the question of how they cope in a similar situation.

When audiences think of Liu, they think of the trailblazing actress who has become a household name with projects like Kill Bill, Charlie’s Angels, and Elementary. There has never been a question of her immense talent, but the performance she gives in Rosemead is unlike Liu has ever done before. As Irene, a mother deeply concerned about her son’s mental health and safety, trying to protect him and those around him, while fighting terminal cancer, Liu is firing on all emotional levels in her performance. Her entire performance is defined by a compassion and care for her son, as she is increasingly more and more disturbed as his schizophrenia spirals out of control, developing a riveting conflict as a mother who would do anything for her son, the fear she has of what hurt her son could inflict on this world, and the cultural pressures that don’t necessarily recognize the gravity of mental health struggles. It’s an overload of emotional trauma that will leave audiences emotionally exhausted, but there is not a moment where Liu is not sensational. From the thick Mandarin accent she perfects to devastating body language she tries to internalize everything and put on a brave front for her son, it's nothing short of a tour de force performance that not only carries the entire film from start to finish, but showcases a side of Liu audiences don’t often see but should see more of!

Equally as impressive as Liu, but never stealing the spotlight from her phenomenal performance, is Lawrence Shou as Joe. Capturing the mental break within Joe caused by his schizophrenia, creating moments of unpredictable tension as he Joe splits from reality, Shou never fails to capture the scared young man trying to mend himself from the great loss he has suffered, which is critical to the film’s success. Alongside Liu, they create a caring mother son relationship which gives the film its emotional stake as you can see the relationship that Irene is fighting for, setting the audience up for emotional devastation. While Liu’s performance acts as the audience’s vantage point for the film, it is the work of Shou that ties the entire film together, which is no easy task to accomplish given the film’s subject matter and deserves praise… especially since this is Shou’s feature film debut.

Eric Lin’s directorial debut in Rosemead is a rich first film, deeply reflective with its exploration of culture and mental illness while tackling some of the most challenging subject matter a film can. And his direction from start to finish not only captures the required tone for this complex and deeply triggering story to keep the audience sympathetic despite its dark outcome, but displays storytelling talents and an understanding that many seasoned directors do not possess. With the career redefining performance from Lucy Liu guiding the film from start to finish, ensuring that the audience’s heart will be pulled in so many different directions that they will need many moments to recover after the film has concluded, Rosemead is a deeply effective exploration of the American Chinese immigrant community and mental illness that acts as a cautionary tale that reminds audiences of the importance of acceptance and support.