Rice Rhapsody
Encyclopedia
Rice Rhapsody (Chinese
: 海南雞飯, literally meaning "Hainanese chicken rice
") is a 2005
film directed by Kenneth Bi
. The cast includes Sylvia Chang
and Martin Yan
. Jackie Chan
was one of the executive producer
s.
. It is narrated by Jen Fan, owner of a successful restaurant. Her signature dish is "Chicken Rice"-in fact she is rather well known for it. Jen has three sons. Daniel and Harry are gay, and Jen is determined the youngest, Leo, does not go the same way. She enlists the help of her friend Kim-Chui, who owns a nearby restaurant. He is less successful than Jen, but is in love with her. Leo has become her life, she is pinning all her hopes of grandchildren on him. She and Kim-Chui hatch a plan that involves bringing Sabine, a female French exchange student, to stay at Jen's house.
When Sabine arrives, Leo predictably shows little interest in her. It is painfully clear to all except Jen that Leo is in love with his best friend "Batman". Sabine is very laid- back and mystical in her outlook, and the family warm to her. It is she who ultimately helps Jen come to terms with her life.
When "Batman" suddenly announces that he is leaving Singapore, Jen finally realises the truth from Leo's grief-stricken face, and strikes him in fury. As he leaves the house, she falls down the stairs chasing him, injuring her ankle.
Some time later Jen, persuaded by Sabine, attends Harry's birthday party. There she meets many of Harry's gay friends, and she finds them delightful and fun. Another obstacle she must overcome is news of Daniel's impending gay marriage, she is horrified and cannot accept it. The film ends with Jen finally realising how wonderful her sons are, despite being gay. She may also consider a future with the ever-loyal Kim-Chui but this is left open.
Traditional Chinese character
Traditional Chinese characters refers to Chinese characters in any character set which does not contain newly created characters or character substitutions performed after 1946. It most commonly refers to characters in the standardized character sets of Taiwan, of Hong Kong, or in the Kangxi...
: 海南雞飯, literally meaning "Hainanese chicken rice
Hainanese chicken rice
Hainanese chicken rice is a dish of Chinese origin most commonly associated with Hainanese and Singaporean cuisine, although it is also commonly sold in neighbouring Thailand and Malaysia...
") is a 2005
Hong Kong films of 2005
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 2005:.-2005:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2005 at * at Hong Kong Film Archive...
film directed by Kenneth Bi
Kenneth Bi
Kenneth Bi has written, directed, and acted in Canada and Hong Kong in numerous theatre and film productions.-Biography:Kenneth Bi is the son of legendary movie star from the Shaw Brothers Studio, Ivy Ling Po and Chin Han. They have both starred in numerous films and also had a cameo on Kenneth...
. The cast includes Sylvia Chang
Sylvia Chang
Sylvia Chang is a Taiwanese actress, writer, singer, producer and director. In 1992, she was a member of the jury at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.- Actress :...
and Martin Yan
Martin Yan
Martin Yan is a Chinese-born American chef and the host of the award-winning cooking show Yan Can Cook.- Early years and education :With ancestral roots in Kaiping, Guangdong, China, Yan was born in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, to a restaurateur father and a grocer mother, Yan began to cook at 12...
. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
was one of the executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
s.
Plot
The film is set in Singapore's ChinatownChinatown, Singapore
Singapore's Chinatown is an ethnic neighbourhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. Chinatown is located within the larger district of Outram....
. It is narrated by Jen Fan, owner of a successful restaurant. Her signature dish is "Chicken Rice"-in fact she is rather well known for it. Jen has three sons. Daniel and Harry are gay, and Jen is determined the youngest, Leo, does not go the same way. She enlists the help of her friend Kim-Chui, who owns a nearby restaurant. He is less successful than Jen, but is in love with her. Leo has become her life, she is pinning all her hopes of grandchildren on him. She and Kim-Chui hatch a plan that involves bringing Sabine, a female French exchange student, to stay at Jen's house.
When Sabine arrives, Leo predictably shows little interest in her. It is painfully clear to all except Jen that Leo is in love with his best friend "Batman". Sabine is very laid- back and mystical in her outlook, and the family warm to her. It is she who ultimately helps Jen come to terms with her life.
When "Batman" suddenly announces that he is leaving Singapore, Jen finally realises the truth from Leo's grief-stricken face, and strikes him in fury. As he leaves the house, she falls down the stairs chasing him, injuring her ankle.
Some time later Jen, persuaded by Sabine, attends Harry's birthday party. There she meets many of Harry's gay friends, and she finds them delightful and fun. Another obstacle she must overcome is news of Daniel's impending gay marriage, she is horrified and cannot accept it. The film ends with Jen finally realising how wonderful her sons are, despite being gay. She may also consider a future with the ever-loyal Kim-Chui but this is left open.
Themes
Rice Rhapsody is a comedy with serious themes, including homosexuality and acceptance. The irony is that Jen has three loving, successful sons. Harry, the hairdresser showers her with beauty products. Daniel is a flight attendant. Leo is serious and studious. However, She cannot see beyond her concerns about them being gay. Both Kim-Chui and Sabine eventually help Jen to accept them for what they are, and the film, although comic, strikes a poignant note as well. An example is the longing expression in Jen's eyes as she gazes at a friend's grandson. Food is also an important theme integral to the plot. Preparation of food, serving of food, are all lovingly portrayed. Interestingly Sabine the vegetarian never consumes the one thing Jen does best, the "Chicken Rice" of the title. A comic strand involves some friendly competition between Jen and Kim-Chui,(Kim-Chui's speciality is Duck Rice) resulting in a TV cookery standoff that allows Leo to reconcile with her.Cast and roles
- Sylvia ChangSylvia ChangSylvia Chang is a Taiwanese actress, writer, singer, producer and director. In 1992, she was a member of the jury at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.- Actress :...
- Jen - Martin YanMartin YanMartin Yan is a Chinese-born American chef and the host of the award-winning cooking show Yan Can Cook.- Early years and education :With ancestral roots in Kaiping, Guangdong, China, Yan was born in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, to a restaurateur father and a grocer mother, Yan began to cook at 12...
- Kim Chui - Mélanie LaurentMélanie LaurentMélanie Laurent is a French actress, director, singer and writer. She is best known to international audiences for her role as Shosanna Dreyfus in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, for which she won Best Actress from the Online Film Critics Society and the Austin Film Critics...
- Sabine - LePham Tan - Leo
- Andy Mok - Batman
- Craig Toh - Harry
- Alvin Chiang - Daniel
- Maggie QMaggie QMargaret Denise Quigley , professionally known as Maggie Q, is an American-born actress and former fashion model. She currently stars as the titular character on the action-thriller TV series Nikita.-Early life:...
- Gigi - Ivy Ling PoIvy Ling PoIvy Ling Po is a Chinese actress and Huangmei opera singer. She played an important role in the entertainment industry for preserving the art form.-1950s - 1960s:...
- Grandma - Chin Han - Grandpa (credited as Ronald Bi)
- Samuel Chong - Master of Ceremony
- Steph SongSteph SongSteph Song is a Malaysian-born actress raised in Canada and Australia. She was voted Sexiest Woman in the world by Asian readers of FHM magazine...
- Jennifer
Awards
- 25th Hong Kong Film Awards25th Hong Kong Film AwardsCeremony for the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 8 April 2006 in the Hong Kong Coliseum and hosted by Eric Tsang, Teresa Mo and Chapman To...
:- Won: Best New Director (Kenneth Bi)
- Nominated: Best Actress (Sylvia Chang)
- Jury Award for Best Actress (Sylvia Chang, 2005 Newport Beach Film Festival)
- Platinum Award for Best First Feature (Kenneth Bi, 2005 Worldfest Houston)
- Top Ten Chinese Language Films of 2005 (Chinese Film Critics Association)
- Outstanding Screenplay (Kenneth Bi, Taiwan Government Information Office)