Watched: April 8, 2015 on Netflix

Hashtag: #WatchingJoyLuckClub

Year Released: 1993

Genre: Drama

Starring: Ming-Na Wen, Lauren Tom

Run Time: 139 minutes

Description (from Wikipedia): Four older women, all Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco, meet regularly to play mahjong, eat, and tell stories. Each of these women has an adult Chinese-American daughter. The film reveals the hidden pasts of the older women and their daughters and how their lives are shaped by the clash of Chinese and American cultures as they strive to understand their family bonds and one another.

 

Based on the novel by Amy Tan, The Joy Luck Club gives four mothers and their daughters a chance to tell their stories, one at a time.  It was beautiful, moving, sad, and heartbreaking.  Each woman had a powerful experience to share and by the end of the film I just wanted them all to finally be happy.  I think most of them probably did find their way to happiness, and I loved that it ended on a hopeful note.

I really, really, really liked this film.  I don’t know if I’ll use the word “love,” because it definitely had depressing moments, but I will most definitely watch again.

I had a little trouble with my 3G last night, so I ended up only tweeting about 2/3rds of the movie and they appear out of order in the feed 😦 To read all of my tweets, follow me @RLHammAuthor and look for #WatchingJoyLuckClub

 

It’s Mulan! (Or at least her voice) #WatchingJoyLuckClub

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 8, 2015

Oh shit, things just. Got. Real. #WatchingJoyLuckClub

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 8, 2015

Chinese Mom guilt is INTENSE, ya’ll #WatchingJoyLuckClub

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 8, 2015

I never thought I’d see a man eat watermelon in a lecherous way #WatchingJoyLuckClub

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 8, 2015

Verdict: I’m not crying, you’re crying #WatchingJoyLuckClub

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 9, 2015