by Henry Pham
Inspired by a harrowing true story written by Frank Shyong, Rosemead follows an ailing woman, Irene, who, after losing her husband, takes drastic measures to raise and protect her troubled teenage son, Joe, from the dangers of his schizophrenia diagnosis. As his dark obsessions grow and time runs out, she is forced to make impossible choices: how far will she go and what is she willing to sacrifice?
Lucy Liu, known for her roles in Kill Bill films and Kung Fu Panda films, portrays her role as Irene, a terminally ill widow who lives with her 17-year-old son Joe (portrayed by Lawrence Shou), a former star student and swimmer, whose schizophrenia symptoms worsen. Based on her acting performance, Liu has an acting range from appearing in franchise films to action martial-arts films and television series (including Fox’s Ally McBeal). Here in this film, she is truly magnificent, portraying a lovable mother who loves her son. Her role is the most career-defining performance of her career. Shou is also wonderful, capturing raw emotion that is beneath his character as the mother’s son. His performance nearly reminded us of our relationships with our own mothers, and he nailed it big time.
Rosemead marks a directorial debut for filmmaker Eric Lin, with Marilyn Fu handling the script. The story flows gently without rushing. It doesn’t feel too short despite its 97-minute runtime. The screenplay, editing, and acting by Lucy Liu and newcomer Lawrence Shou, coupled with the masterful cinematography, made it a medical-opera drama experience that had me tickled at the edge of my seat. The scenes where Joe is having some schizophrenic episodes are extremely intense, which gives the emotional, dark feeling that all of us should have been there experiencing it with him. The ending is depressing, but it gives some satisfying closure to both Liu and Shou. It also addresses the cultural norm among Asians and Asian-Americans that mental illness is something that needs to be treated and become a center of attention, like many other people, regardless of their gender, sex, race, religion, or other ethnic groups.
Although this is a tough watch, it is where you learn about mental illness, as the story is based on a dramatization of a real tragedy that occurred in the past. If you wish not to expose yourself to such content, please consider skipping this film, especially if you are suffering from depression or if the subject matter is too intense for you. Clocking in at 97 minutes long, Lucy Liu delivers her magnificent performance as a lovable mother in Rosemead. Her onscreen chemistry with Lawrence Shou is undeniable, which reminds me of movies that feature a mother and son. Both of their performances are incredible, and I hope they get the tons of recognition they deserve. This is a must-watch, especially for Asian audiences and the fans of Lucy Liu.
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