Crystal Chiu and Michael Chen
In a nutshell, here’s why I love Tze Chun’s latest feature film, Children of Invention.
Name every cliche you can think of with respect to Asian American films, and films that have children as main characters. My list includes:
- Mysticism, magical reality, ghosts, evil spirits
- Wisdom from the Old Country
- An adult narrator talking about his/her childhood
- Escape from a brutal Asian husband/father
- Martial arts
- Overcoming racism / teaching those horrible white people a lesson
- Love and sex (especially between an Asian and a non-Asian)
- Ching-chongy music
- Strained metaphors involving dragons, fortune cookies, and/or Chinese astrology
- A group hug to tell the audience it’s time to go home
Miraculously, Children of Invention contains none of these.
With admirable restraint, awesomely talented screenwriter and director Chun tells a simple tale about a divorced immigrant mother named Elaine Cheng and her two American-born children, Raymond and Tina. This is a story about Elaine’s addiction — not to drugs or alcohol, but to the sinister world of multi-level marketing (MLM), where pyramid schemes are hidden behind a patina of glossy brochures, health and beauty products with catchy names, and the promise of riches and respectability. If you’ve ever wondered why on earth anyone would buy into these obvious frauds, by the end of the film you’ll feel like you have at least an inkling, as revealed by Cindy Cheung’s sparkling portrayal of Elaine. Even after having been repeatedly burned, Elaine approaches the purveyors of each new scam with heartbreaking sincerity, gripped with the fear that this latest opportunity lies just beyond her grasp.
Elaine’s naivete is tragically combined with a work ethic, determination, and a willingness to sacrifice for her dreams — normally good things. Her relentless quest for MLM success has cost her all of her money, her house, and her dignity. Will it cost her her children as well?
Raymond and Tina Cheng (masterfully portrayed by Michael Chen and Crystal Chiu) have a childhood that will be painfully familiar to many Asian Americans. They spend endless hours at home by themselves, eating instant noodles for dinner, and waiting for their mom to come home. Raymond, as the older brother, understands that a lot of what his mother tells him is lies, but further understands that his role is to accept and perpetuate those lies for the sake of both his mother and his little sister. When one day their mother doesn’t come home, Raymond is eerily (but all too understandably) unruffled as he takes on the role of head of the household.
The screenplay is a shining example of economy and structure. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, no scene is overwritten, and the film has a deft feel to it. There are also some genuinely funny moments.
Right now, the film is making the rounds at various film festivals. (I saw it at the recently concluded Philadelphia Film Festival.) You can go to the film’s website to see if there’s going to be a showing near you.
Make the effort.
CHILDREN OF INVENTION, written and directed by Tze Chun, with Cindy Cheung, Michael Chen, Crystal Chiu, 88 min.
Tags: Children of Invention, MLM, Movies, Review, Tze Chun