"Don't cry... Crying never solves anything"
It's a family mantra passed down from generation to generation, inking the paper on which Tigertail tells its tale.
Growing up poverty-stricken in the rice fields of Huwei, Taiwan, Pin-Jui (Tzi Ma) is told from a young age by his grandmother that crying is a sign of weakness. Having lost his father as an infant and living separated from his mother, his inability to process his grief leaves him emotionally repressed but hardened to the hardships of rural Taiwanese life. Upon moving to America to start his own family, Pin-Jui's moves out of poverty but his nature doesn't change and his relationship with his daughter, Angela (Christine Ko), becomes increasingly strained as she struggles to understand his habitual lack of affection.
Much like Lulu Wang's Independent Spirit Award winning 'The Farewell', Tigertail explores the East-West dissonance that ripples through first-generation Asian Americans. By linking Pin-Jui's closed-off nature to generations of family hardship, the rift between him and Angela is presented as one of socio-economic disparity. Growing up under starkly different circumstances, the advice that got him through the rice fields of Huwei doesn't translate to the boroughs of New York, and by perpetuating it to his daughter, he has alienated himself from what really matters in life; the love of his family.
The result is a gentle but striking meditation on family discord and identity conflict that, at only 90 minutes, feels a bit slight in its impact. Nevertheless, as an old flame of Pin-Jui's tells him to open up to his daughter, the film achieves a sweet reconciliation. By becoming an emotional shoulder for Angela to lean on, Angela, in turn, becomes receptive to learning about the sacrifices her father made to chase the American dream and give her a better life. Their estranged relationship is bridged by a sense of mutual understanding and the message cuts deep; people may never change who they are but communication is essential in finding common ground. Most pertinently, Tigertail exalts the importance of family at a time when it feels more crucial than ever.
It's a family mantra passed down from generation to generation, inking the paper on which Tigertail tells its tale.
Growing up poverty-stricken in the rice fields of Huwei, Taiwan, Pin-Jui (Tzi Ma) is told from a young age by his grandmother that crying is a sign of weakness. Having lost his father as an infant and living separated from his mother, his inability to process his grief leaves him emotionally repressed but hardened to the hardships of rural Taiwanese life. Upon moving to America to start his own family, Pin-Jui's moves out of poverty but his nature doesn't change and his relationship with his daughter, Angela (Christine Ko), becomes increasingly strained as she struggles to understand his habitual lack of affection.
Much like Lulu Wang's Independent Spirit Award winning 'The Farewell', Tigertail explores the East-West dissonance that ripples through first-generation Asian Americans. By linking Pin-Jui's closed-off nature to generations of family hardship, the rift between him and Angela is presented as one of socio-economic disparity. Growing up under starkly different circumstances, the advice that got him through the rice fields of Huwei doesn't translate to the boroughs of New York, and by perpetuating it to his daughter, he has alienated himself from what really matters in life; the love of his family.
The result is a gentle but striking meditation on family discord and identity conflict that, at only 90 minutes, feels a bit slight in its impact. Nevertheless, as an old flame of Pin-Jui's tells him to open up to his daughter, the film achieves a sweet reconciliation. By becoming an emotional shoulder for Angela to lean on, Angela, in turn, becomes receptive to learning about the sacrifices her father made to chase the American dream and give her a better life. Their estranged relationship is bridged by a sense of mutual understanding and the message cuts deep; people may never change who they are but communication is essential in finding common ground. Most pertinently, Tigertail exalts the importance of family at a time when it feels more crucial than ever.