Dim Sum

Set in 80’s San Fran, Dim Sum centres on the daily goings-on of a small and ordinary Chinese family, dealing with small and ordinary everyday issues. The main focus of the story is the awkward relationship between Mrs Tam and her thirty-something daughter Geraldine, played by real-life mother and daughter Kim and Laureen Chew. Between a mother whose mindset is stuck firmly in Chinese tradition and a daughter brought up in modern day America, the relationship is sometimes fraught – given the different ways both women have been raised – but, at the end of the day, full of love. With the notable exception of charming character actor Ken Chow (perfect as loveable uncle Tam), virtually every other performer had no acting experience prior to the filming of this movie, yet each character is portrayed in a wonderfully fresh and lifelike manner. The slow pace drags Dim Sum down slightly, but overall, this is a sweet tale of family life.