Rosemead follows the life of Irene (Lucy Lui)—based on the true story of Lai Hang—a terminally ill widow navigating her son’s schizophrenia diagnosis. Exploring themes of illness—both physical and mental—depicting a strong family love, and challenging the mental health stigma in Asian American communities, Rosemead brings heavy topics to light in a beautiful, yet harrowing manner.
You can read “A dying mother’s plan: Buy gun. Rent a hotel room. Kill her son” and pass judgment upon Lai Hang. You can view her as an overwhelmed wife and mother, clouded with grief and sadness over her own diagnosis. You can say she acted unreasonably, that you would never think to do such a thing to your own child. You should watch Rosemead.
Screenwriter Marilyn Fu and director Eric Lin placed a great deal of emphasis upon depicting both the boy’s hardships as well as the community’s response. Scenes of gossiping about how medication will cause irreversible brain damage or claiming that attending therapy is the behavior of a foreigner call attention to the cultural stigma. A whole new layer of struggle is uncovered in the shame inflicted upon the family by their community.
Joe (Lawrence Shou), based on George Hang, took the viewer inside the mind of a person living with schizophrenia. Outside of his episodes, the audience had an opportunity to come to know Joe as a happy, loving son with normal teenage boy interests. Yet, amidst his psychotic breaks, the viewers become immersed in his mind, providing an insight into schizophrenia that is not often depicted in the media. Overlaying whispering voices paired with a shaky camera and strobing effects help viewers understand the hardships experienced within, rather than only seeing seemingly randomized erratic behavior.
The film was simple yet effective. Intense flashback scenes paired with stressful situations provide a glimpse into Joe’s mind. At one point, Joe posts, “Their pills dull my vigilance. No more!” As his condition intensifies, Joe continues to lash out, smashing electronics, flipping tables, and so on. Imagery underscoring his worsening condition includes meticulously drawn maps of the school layout and a growing infatuation with school shooters.
Unlike the LA Times article, the title “Rosemead” is not clickbait, painting the mother as a murderer. Instead, the viewer comes to understand Irene as a mother truly fearful that her son would hurt others, using her dying days to make an impossible decision. This story’s tragic conclusion is a result of augmenting societal pressure pushing a lost woman’s back against the wall, leading her to believe she has no other choice.
A final emphasis on Irene’s love for her son comes as she tidies up his space, tying his shoes and gently laying them next to his body before ending his life. Even under impossible circumstances, Irene never ceased to be a caring mother.
4.5/5 Stars.
Although truly devastating, Rosemead was powerful with the characters and their struggles brilliantly depicted. With the goal of breaking down barriers toward the Asian American community speaking more openly about mental health crises, this film serves as an excellent starting point to inspire conversation.
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