Two Lies
Two Lies is a 1990 short film directed, produced and written by Pamela Tom and starring Dian Kobayashi, Sala Iwamatsu, and Marie Nakano. The film was shot in black and white and discusses issues like identity, Orientalism, and Blepharoplasty.
Plot
The plot of the film focuses on the life of a Chinese American family who struggles with identity. The mother, Doris Chu, has undergone blepharoplasty, or "double eyelid" surgery, and the oldest of two daughters, Mei, has trouble understanding her mother's actions. From her perspective, her mother's two new eyes are equivalent to two lies. On a trip to Cabot's Pueblo Museum off a dusty highway in Southern California, a series of confrontations occur and Mei finally realizes her mother's reasoning. Between the conflicts of Chinese tradition and American ways, the family tries to adapt to their new life in Southern California.
Cast
Dian Kobayashi - Doris Chu Sala Iwamatsu - Mei Chu Marie Nakano - Esther Chu
Extended Cast
Joe Marinalli - NickWilliam Merzenich - Pueblo Tour GuideBob McCarthy - MartinMelba Yale - Accordion TeacherWalter Looell, Jr - Teenage Boy at PoolCarolyn Stanek - Little Girl in Pool
Awards, Festivals, & Screenings