Bonus: Eat, Drink, Man Woman

Ang Lee's film "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman" creates an interesting look at the modern Chinese family. Each one of Chu's daughters ultimately try to escape their father's overbearing influence. However, the daughter's actions to remove themselves from their father show a complex family where they truly do care for one another.

Chef Chu's life centers around his elaborate meals, while his daughters detest such family functions. Every Sunday Chu labors to create a lavish meal for his family, to their nuisance as his sense of taste has gone bad in his old age. The youngest of the daughters Jian Niang tries to live outside the family through her boyfriend. Jian Niang however toys with her "boyfriend" by attempting to feign disinterest in him. This escape, however, becomes complicated as the friendly behavior of her friend ultimately woos the boy. Yet, this ultimately leads in the surprising revelation that Jian Niang has become pregnant and will be leaving the house. The middle child Jia-Chen is a successful worker for an airline company. She escapes her father through her commitment to her work. She is so committed that she ultimately is offered the job of vice president of the company in Holland. Jia-Chen is thus forced to walk the narrow road of leaving her father alone with only Jia-Jen, the oldest daughter, to care for him or to leave completely. An altercation between the two ultimately demonstrates the close bonds each have toward family. Jia Jen also attempts to escape through her commitment to religion and the potential for love in the high school volleyball coach. Jia Jen is a well educated chemistry teacher, albeit shy and often socially awkward. She looks to Christianity, a dumb religion by the standards of her father, to gain acceptance in her world. On the other hand, she attempts to follow the traditional Chinese role of "being married off" through the volley ball coach. However, the children she teaches continually make fun of her, making her dependant on the family. While each daughter attempts to live a life without their father, each of them ultimately realizes the solace found in family. Even though family is not always perfect, as represented by Chu's decision to marry Madame Liang.