"Eat Drink Man Woman"

Paper Summary:

This paper is an in-depth review of the cultural/social binaries in Ang Lee's 1994 "Eat Drink Man Woman." The paper discusses how these binaries allow the characters to show their complexity as they face the demands of conflicting expectations. The paper also dissects the characterization and development of the movie's three female leads. The paper concludes with the author's assessment that Ang Lee successfully subverts the patriarchal binary schemes of these women's societies.

From the Paper:

"Ang Lee's 1994 film Eat Drink Man Woman is a mature and empowering cinematic, comedic exploration of the lives and development of a splintering family in contemporary Taiwan. The film begins by setting up a series of stereotypes, drawn from the usual constructions of the Asian household, as well as woman's perceived role in modern society generally. The film is redeemed from simple Hollywood-style re-presentation of the standard tropes by subverting these throughout the film. This subversion itself, however, is becoming cliche in movies today, and the womyn who defy the odds to overthrow the oppressors (see GI Jane, Thelma and Louise, and their ilk) define and limit women unfairly. Lee, however, avoids the temptation of excess, and his characters make choices not because they are self-consciously trying to protest a male dominated world, but because they believe what they are doing is best for them. Their psychology meshes superbly with their development, leaving us satisfied that the characters have become stronger woman because of their own actions vis-a-vis their context, not because of the contrived agenda of the director."

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