Pushing Hands
dir. Ang Lee · 1991
Navigating the complexities of cultural differences can challenge one's sense of identity and belonging in a new environment.
Feature
Immigrant Experience
Mood
Comedic / Contemplative
Look
intimate framing with warm, natural lighting
Structure
episodic with slice-of-life vignettes
Plot
Mr. Chu is an elderly widower who teaches tai chi chuan in Beijing. He moves to America to live with his son's family, but finds the cultural adjustment difficult. Since his daughter-in-law is a white woman who does not speak Chinese, Mr. Chu's son, Alex, must mediate.
Why watch
"Pushing Hands" delicately navigates the cultural chasm between East and West through the lens of a tai chi master’s adjustment to life in America. This film is a gentle exploration of familial bonds and the humorous yet poignant trials of assimilation.
Cultural context
East-West cultural clashimmigrant assimilation strugglesgenerational dividesnuances of communication