The Wedding Banquet

Gao Wai-Tung is a bisexual Taiwanese immigrant who enjoys a fulfilling life in Manhattan alongside his gay Jewish partner, Simon. Despite the joyous life he leads, Wai-Tung has yet to reveal his true self to his traditionally-minded parents back in Taiwan. As he enters his late 20s, his parents are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about him getting married and having children to uphold the family lineage. In a bid to give themselves some breathing space, they concoct various complicated requests when his parents hire a dating service, asking for an opera singer with bizarre specifications such as being 5’9”, fluent in five languages, and holding two PhDs. To their surprise, the service actually finds a potential match, a 5’8” Chinese woman named Wei-Wei, who comes close to meeting their demanding criteria, only missing the mark on her academic qualifications with just one PhD.

Upon Simon’s proposal, Wai-Tung makes the choice to marry Wei-Wei, an impoverished artist from mainland China in dire need of a green card. This marriage serves a dual purpose: it aids Wei-Wei while also hoping to pacify Wai-Tung’s parents during their impending visit. Just when the situation seems manageable, Mr. and Mrs. Gao’s arrival complicates matters further. Before they even set foot in the house, Simon teaches Wei-Wei essential details about Wai-Tung’s routines and lifestyle. The trio quickly removes any traces of same-sex relationships from their home decor, replacing it with traditional Mandarin calligraphy scrolls.

When Mr. and Mrs. Gao arrive, they come bearing gifts as well as a remarkable sum of $30,000 which they intend for an extravagant wedding, blissfully unaware of the truth about their son’s situation. Wai-Tung, fearing the consequences of revealing his secret, refrains from disclosing his relationship with Simon, instead presenting him as his landlord—a daunting task made easier by his father’s recent recovery from a stroke.

The day after Wai-Tung introduces Wei-Wei to his parents, he declares their plans for a marriage ceremony with a Justice of the Peace. However, his mother’s distress upon discovering the humble status of Wei-Wei—a situation that feels disgraceful in her eyes—leads Wai-Tung to plan a lavish wedding banquet, generously offered by Mr. Gao’s former batman and restaurant owner friend. The banquet erupts into an intense celebration where relatives storm the bridal suite, demanding that the newlyweds consummate their marriage, which eventually leads to Wei-Wei’s unexpected pregnancy.

Chaos ensues when Simon learns about Wei-Wei’s pregnancy, triggering a heated argument that strains his bond with Wai-Tung. At a critical moment, as Mr. Gao suffers another stroke, Wai-Tung, in a wave of frustration, reveals the truth to his mother. Shocked and dismayed, she implores him to keep this secret from his father. However, it becomes evident that Mr. Gao understands more than he lets on—he confides in Simon that he embraces him as another son, acknowledging the sacrifices Simon has made to be with Wai-Tung.

Before departing for an abortion appointment, Wei-Wei decides to keep the baby and encourages Simon to be a collaborative father alongside Wai-Tung. In a tender exchange at the airport just before the Gaos’ flight back to Taiwan, Mr. Gao accepts Simon’s presence with a warm handshake, while Mrs. Gao bids a heartfelt goodbye to Wei-Wei. This poignant moment marks the start of an unconventional family dynamic that still needs to navigate its way through life’s complexities.

Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04