DORÉ

I’ve been trying to write this post about Crazy Rich Asians over the past few days, and it’s been a struggle, to say the least. How do you sum up your feelings about growing up without significant Asian American representation within 500 words? (No disrespect to Lucy Liu, the Yellow Ranger from Power Rangers, and Margaret Cho, but I really wish I could name more than these three Asian women in media off the top of my head.)

You can’t. It’s been too complex for me to express the importance of this film, even after days of introspection… and I’m a photographer after all, most certainly not a writer :). But there’s a reason why this movie is making so much noise within the community. Not because this is the most exciting romantic comedy that’s ever existed, but because for the first time in a very long time, there are people who look like us on the big screen. Crazy Rich Asians is not a period piece where you can ogle at the exoticism of Asian history, or an action film starring Jackie Chan. It’s a relatable story about a New Yorker who falls in love. And it’s the simplicity of this story that’s giving us hope for what the next generation of entertainment might start to look like: an inclusive community where actresses like Constance Wu or Gemma Chan can be considered for the same roles as an Emma Stone or Jennifer Lawrence.

Overall, Crazy Rich Asians is a funny, whimsical, and vibrant experience, with feel good rom com storylines, and extravagant fashion moments that will bring you back to The Devil Wears Prada. Definitely one of those movies best enjoyed in theaters (the night market scene alone will have you booking your next flight to Singapore), so grab your best friends and make it a date! I hope you will feel the same way I did when you see it: that it was a really fun film to watch, and the entire cast just so happened to be Asian. I can’t wait for more of these types of films to follow.