The Big Sick Throws Hollywoods Asian Dude Stereotypes Out the Window

[IronLionZion]

Some may remember the 2000’s martial arts film Romeo Must Die, featuring action star Jet Li and late R&B singer Aaliyah as star-crossed lovers amidst police corruption and family secrets. In the final scene, after defeating the bad guy in a ring of fire and facing his father in a dramatic confrontation, Li finds Aaliyah outside waiting for him and goes in for a… hug.

For an adaptation based on the greatest love story of all time, the ending was pretty disappointing. Just a hug?! After all, the 1996 adaptation Romeo + Juliet had multiple kiss scenes between Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, from the make-out scene in the elevator to the famous pool scene, eventually leading to them having sex later in the film. Even more disappointing, however, is learning that the original ending had Li kissing Aaliyah, but was later re-filmed because the scene had been received so poorly by the test audience.

The reason? The audience was reportedly uncomfortable with "seeing an Asian man portrayed in a sexual light.” In other words, the decision wasn’t only lousy—it was racially motivated.

Silicon Valley actor Kumail Nanjiani’s romantic comedy The Big Sick comes out in theaters today, and has already attracted attention for casting the Pakistani-born Nanjiani, who co-wrote the film with his wife Emily V. Gordon, as the male lead. Nanjiani plays a struggling stand-up comedian, also named Kumail, and meets Emily (Zoe Kazan) at one of his shows. After a one-night stand, the two begin dating—despite the fact that his parents want him to marry a Pakistani Muslim girl—a secret he tries to keep on both sides. Based on Nanjiani and Gordon’s real-life romance, the story explores themes of family, tradition, and culture.

While Nanjiani told Complex that he didn’t intend to make The Big Sick as a political statement, the fact remains that its existence is a breakthrough in the tired, long running narrative of the Asian American guy not getting the girl, particularly if she’s outside his race.



http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2017/06/the-big-sick-and-interracial-romance

Movie trailer at the link

I can imagine what is going on in the mind of a deplorable: These people come over here to steal our jobs, pretend to be US citizens, and now they have the audacity to steal our daughters(or sons) too!?!?!?!

Good old Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III's daughter married an Asian man. Jeff even brought out his grandkids to prove that he's not racist!

[yuiyoshida]

1. trailer