Aptly titled, in a modern New York setting, "Saving Face" tells the story of a Chinese American family coming to terms with loves, dreams, and orientation. For years prior to this tale, presumably, Wil, the doctor has kept secret her style of romance. Her traditional mother refuses to believe that her daughter can be happy unmarried. Further, the grandfather is concerned more with saving his face, saving his family name from disgrace, than with keeping his family together.

Outwardly, unraveling in a sort of cute "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" kind of way, "Saving Face" progresses on the inward tension between passion and repression. The main character is quite comfortable hiding that which she loves from her family, because she knows her family will not accept it. She fears their response. But that which she loves will not be kept hidden. Nor will that which her mother secretly loves.

This film breaks the icy barriers of traditional repression, cold communication. And while offering up a series of sometimes charming scenes, the film seldom breaks deeper into the surface. You'll chuckle, but you won't cry. You'll root for Wil, but you won't really get to know her, nor feel with her.

The production rolls well mostly, but lulls going into the third act, which becomes a bit overloaded/confused with multiple movie endings. Mostly in English, but with a significant amount of Chinese language (subtitled in English).

Quote from writer/director Alice Wu, "I wrote 'Saving Face' as a love-letter to my mother. The character of Ma begins the movie as a woman with all major decisions in life seemingly made; at 48, she has lived a proper life and is now essentially just living to die. That she ultimately breaks with tradition and lives on her own terms is a triumph I wanted my mother -- and the world -- to see. I suppose if there is one thing I am trying to say with the film, it is that no matter who you are -- Asian or black, gay or straight, young or old -- that everyone basically wants to love -- and that opportunity can start at any point in your life that you want it to. ... I wanted my mother to know that it was never too late to fall in love for the first time."