In 2017, The LA Times published an article about the tragic story of a terminally ill widow and her troubled, schizophrenic teenage son. After seven years of development, that true-life tale has been adapted into Rosemead, written by Marilyn Fu and directed by Eric Lin.
Lucy Liu (who also serves as Producer here) stars as Irene, a Taiwanese woman whose health has begun to rapidly deteriorate. Those newfound, daily challenges come at the same time as the worsening of her son Joe’s (Lawrence Shou) mental state—a consequence of his father’s recent passing. The story at the heart of Rosemead is profound but grim; it has its moments of warmth, but the proceedings are constantly overshadowed by a looming cloud of uncertainty. It’s a thought-provoking look into mental health and how the reluctance to acknowledge it does more harm than good. Fu deftly showcases how Asian communities, and the culture as a whole, often perceive the issue of mental health. At the same time, Liu delivers an effective and profound performance as a woman desperately holding everything together, not only for herself but also for her son.
Rosemead opens up with a profound sense of normalcy. Audiences witness Irene running her print shop, picking up Joe from school, and then taking him to his therapy sessions. In a few well-chosen moments, Lin efficiently establishes the busy lifestyle Irene now leads as a single parent. But a dark cloud begins to loom over the lives of mother and son. A heavy cough from Irene and Joe’s empty gaze as his mind wanders elsewhere speaks of things to come. Things aren’t helped by Irene’s refusal to acknowledge her son’s mental health, and that refusal is inevitably damaging.
Joe’s therapist, Dr. Hsu (James Chen), suggests that she attend the sessions to both show her maternal support and to allow them to work together to treat Joe’s schizophrenia. Irene replies that just because he is Asian doesn’t mean he understands her or her son’s situation. The film and its actors do a tremendous job of demonstrating the shame both Irene and Joe feel about what they’re going through. Irene feels isolated in battling her illness, hiding it from Joe and others, while Joe hides his spiralling state from his mother and everyone around him. Their shame intensifies as the film goes on, initially feeling like a quiet whimper before becoming a painful wail by its conclusion.
Despite Irene’s reluctance to truly acknowledge Joe’s schizophrenia, it’s hard not to feel sympathy for her. Liu is able to provide the character with impressive layers of nuance, elevating the character further with every scene. She disappears into the role and, from her voice to her mannerisms, is almost unrecognizable. She takes small, steady steps when she walks, and her hands are often held close to her chest, almost as a way of protecting and perhaps sheltering herself.
Liu is well-matched by her on-screen son. Shou portrays Joe with quiet, deep-rooted rage and is truly outstanding from start to finish. The top student’s love of water — Joe is an award-winning swimmer — is a perfect metaphor for his illness here, too. Where he once found pleasure in the pool, he now feels as if he is drowning in his grief and his illness. Joe often has visions of Irene, his dad and himself dancing and singing in a motel room. A happy memory he has clutched onto throughout it all. Though it can be difficult to portray on screen, Rosemead does an effective job of portraying his schizophrenia through frantic flashes and whispering voices. Lin allows the audience to witness Joe’s feelings through this immersive, unsettling experience, effectively conveying the gravity of what he is going through.
Rosemead is a cautionary tale about the ramifications of turning a blind eye to mental health, anchored by Liu’s nuanced portrayal of an ailing mother reluctant to admit the severity of her son’s mental illness. The veteran actress proves she can tackle an intense role with sincerity and subtlety. Lin helms the film with a deft hand, allowing audiences to sympathize with both mother and son, and giving interesting insight into their motivations. There’s a deep love between Irene and Joe, but a lack of communication and a fear of discussing what is going on that ultimately damages them both.
Rosemead opened in limited release in theatres beginning January 9.
