‘Rosemead’ overview: Lucy Liu’s dramatic, ruinous flip calls for your consideration

The true story behind the household drama “Rosemead” will not be the saddest story ever dropped at the display screen. However boy, it’s up there.

Impressed by a shattering 2017 Occasions article by then-staff author Frank Shyong (and now the primary narrative characteristic movie from LA Occasions Studios), “Rosemead” has lengthy been a ardour challenge for its star, Lucy Liu, additionally a producer. It’s not arduous to see why.

This highly effective account of humble, terminally ailing Taiwanese American widow Irene Chao (primarily based on real-life Rosemead resident Lai Hold), who takes the destiny of her schizophrenic teen son into her personal fingers, affords the transformational position of a lifetime for Liu. Finest identified for trendy, commanding turns within the “Charlie’s Angels” and “Kill Invoice” motion pictures and in TV sequence resembling “Ally McBeal” and “Elementary,” she’s a revelation right here.

However the narrative additionally shines a vital highlight on L.A.’s Asian American neighborhood and its generally insular method to dealing with emotional trauma, notably psychological sickness. Disgrace over the situation’s perceived stigma, language limitations and a common concern of expressing oneself add to this cultural dilemma, one which hasn’t been extensively explored on the large display screen.

Liu is tender and heartbreaking as Irene, who runs the native print store that her husband (Orion Lee, seen in flashbacks) left behind a number of years in the past. She additionally helps out within the natural pharmacy run by childhood finest pal Kai-Li (Jennifer Lim). Provided that Irene shows a troubling cough from the beginning, it’s no shock the place her well being is heading.

Of extra rapid fear to Irene, although, is her solely little one, Joe (a superb Lawrence Shou), a highschool senior recognized with schizophrenia after his beloved dad’s premature dying — and it’s gotten worse. This downturn has impacted his grades, aggressive swimming standing and general focus; he obsessively doodles eerie clusters of spiders and attracts a disturbing map of his faculty’s flooring plan.

Joe maintains a supportive circle of buddies, however they, like Irene and different observers, are ever extra alarmed by his bouts of maximum conduct. The boy’s abrupt, inexplicable disappearances are more and more commonplace, as is a harmful streak.

If that wasn’t sufficient, Joe has secretly stopped taking his meds. He’s additionally seemingly develop into fixated on weapons and the infinite string of college shootings that make the information.

His deeply involved therapist, Dr. Hsu (James Chen), assures Irene, who has saved herself at arm’s size, “Most individuals with schizophrenia don’t have interaction in violence.” Nevertheless it’s chilly consolation to a mom whose days are numbered by a dire analysis. She’s satisfied that when she is now not there to observe and defend her son, he’ll damage himself and others.

One thing have to be finished. The result’s an act so unthinkable that, if it hadn’t occurred in actual life, Marilyn Fu’s in any other case sensitively constructed screenplay might sound past restore. However, as they are saying, fact is stranger than fiction and viewers received’t quickly neglect the movie’s devastating conclusion.

Eric Lin, who has served as cinematographer on such disparate indie movies as “The Exploding Woman,” “My Blind Brother” and “Hearts Beat Loud,” makes a worthy characteristic directing debut right here, even when the image tends to unfold a bit extra prosaically than its singular story may demand. But when Lin makes an attempt to interrupt out utilizing strobe results to mirror Joe’s schizophrenic episodes, it comes off extra jarring than immersive.

Nonetheless, with an ready help from cinematographer Lyle Vincent (“A Woman Walks Residence Alone at Night time”), Lin vividly captures the feel and appear of life in and round Rosemead. It is a particular achievement since solely a couple of quarter of the film was shot in L.A. The remainder was filmed in Queens, Brooklyn and Lengthy Island to benefit from New York’s tax incentives. Irrespective of: The ultimate product, that includes an efficient array of SoCal exteriors to tie issues collectively, seems seamless.

Sufficient can’t be stated about Liu’s astonishing, naturalistic flip. She’s a bodily marvel right here, making herself as small and inconspicuous — but additionally as quietly resolute — as her advanced character requires. Liu, who was raised in a Chinese language-speaking New York family, proves a verbal surprise as nicely, impeccably toggling between Irene’s halting English and her fluent native Mandarin. Prizes might elude Liu this awards season, however she needs to be within the dialog.

Regardless of the movie’s downbeat subject material and its grim finale, watching “Rosemead” isn’t as wholly miserable as it might sound. Like many movies and TV reveals which have handled life’s most unimaginable trials, there are profound human and societal classes to be gleaned. Furthermore, at this second in time, any truthful, heartfelt story about America’s immigrant expertise deserves our consideration. That the movie comprises one of many yr’s best performances might seal the deal for extra critical viewers.