Film Review

Noaki Schwartz

Most movies about identity and cross-cultural angst are predictably full

of one-dimensional stereotypes. However, “Catfish in Blackbean Sauce”

successfully explores the complex intricacies of an African American

family that adopts two unwanted children from Vietnam.

The daughter, Mai, grows up constantly hunting for her mother,

surrounding herself with all things Vietnamese. Her brother, on the other

hand, takes on the American name Dwayne and completely identifies with

African American culture.

The situation nears an explosive tension when Mai eventually finds her

mother, who tries to push the African American parents out of her newly

found children’s lives.

What is so successful about the film is that each individual has such a

distinct character. On some level, the audience is allowed to get close

to each person’s emotional struggle.

The complex dynamics of the culture and the implications of being part of

an Asian family -- compared to that of an African American family -- are

also successfully explored.

The movie manages to wind through an interesting story using humor and

emotion without ever becoming a tired stereotype.

* “Catfish in Blackbean Sauce” screens at 7:45 p.m. Sunday at Edwards

Island 7 Cinemas.