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Saving Face

Play trailer 1:52 Poster for Saving Face R 2005 1h 36m Comedy Drama Romance LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 86 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Wil is a lesbian, but she does not dare tell her widowed mother, Hwei-lan, or her very traditional grandparents. She's shocked, however, to find out she's not the only one in her family with romantic secrets when she learns that her 48-year-old mother is pregnant. Unwilling to reveal who the father is, Hwei-lan is kicked out of her parents' home and must move in with Wil, which puts a strain on Wil's budding relationship with openly gay Vivian.
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Saving Face

Saving Face

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Critics Consensus

A charming tale of a love affair that overcomes cultural taboos.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Smith Slant Magazine Sep 1, 2025
Saving Face is a coming-out story that elicits plenty of universal truths. Go to Full Review Terry Nguyen Vox May 4, 2022
Why do rom-coms always get happy endings, and not family dramas? With Saving Face, Wu dares to ask: Why not both? Go to Full Review Alyx Vesey Bitch Media Jan 11, 2021
Saving Face could get really preachy if it wanted to. But that it addresses multiple concerns with a light touch is one of its virtues. Go to Full Review Rudie Obias Battleship Pretension Aug 29, 2025
Saving Face is charming and witty, while it has a lot to say about the relationship between mothers and their daughters — through the lens of an immigrant’s story. Go to Full Review Steven Lindsey Texas Triangle/TXT May 8, 2023
3.5/4
There are moments that are laugh-out-loud, but more importantly, there are times you can't pry the smile off your face simply in anticipation of what comes next. Go to Full Review Amanda Jane Stern Film Inquiry Dec 30, 2020
Saving Face is a beautifully crafted movie about the fight between family tradition and finding a new way for yourself. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jun 14, 2022 Incredible acting, dialogue, and story. Loved this universally relatable portrayal of a mother and daughter, as well as the complexity of love! See more May 30, 2021 One of my favorite portrayals of sapphic romance! See more Nov 27, 2020 Super cringy, but relatable... See more Jun 9, 2020 Really beautiful story. Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen have great on screen chemistry. See more May 29, 2020 A sweet love story. Following the trace from past traditional values, is it right? Maybe not always? Should people put extra effort to be who they aren't just to sustain the "face" that they saved? Just "follow your heart", respectfully and gracefully ditching the "face". See more Oct 11, 2019 Well done, no surprises, but great acting and production. Liked it a lot. See more Read all reviews
Saving Face

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Cast & Crew

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Alice Wu

Director

Michelle Krusiec

Wil

Joan Chen

Ma

Lynn Chen

Vivian

Jessica Hecht

Randi

Ato Essandoh

Jay

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Saving Face

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Movie Info

Synopsis Wil is a lesbian, but she does not dare tell her widowed mother, Hwei-lan, or her very traditional grandparents. She's shocked, however, to find out she's not the only one in her family with romantic secrets when she learns that her 48-year-old mother is pregnant. Unwilling to reveal who the father is, Hwei-lan is kicked out of her parents' home and must move in with Wil, which puts a strain on Wil's budding relationship with openly gay Vivian.
Director
Alice Wu
Producer
James Lassiter, Will Smith, Teddy Zee
Screenwriter
Alice Wu
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Forensic Films, Overbrook Entertainment, GreeneStreet Films Inc.
Rating
R (Some Sexuality|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 27, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
1h 36m
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