'Face' actress fuses expectations from two worlds

By Krisha Chachra
Special to The Advertiser

Kristy Wu and Treach star in "Face," a movie about the lives of three women in New York's Chinatown. JoJo Whilden Kristy Wu Age: 22 Home: Los Angeles First acting gig: Stage production of "One Thousand Cranes" at age 12 Education: Stanford University, BA in English lit Movie credits: "Drive Me Crazy" (1999), "What's Cooking?"(2000), "Cry Wolf" (2005) Major TV credits: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (2003), "29 Down" (2005) Quote from movie: Treach: "People don't mind mixed couples. Do you know what year it is?" Wu: "The Year of the Rat?"

The film, a tri-generational depiction of traditional Chinese culture immersed in modern America, focuses on three women struggling to save "face" in New York's Chinatown.

The feature-length film debut for director Bertha Bay-Sa Pan, "Face" opens with an ambitious young woman (Bai Ling) who imagines a life outside the expectations of her traditional Chinese community. Vowing to do better than marry "in a Chinese restaurant" to a husband who is chosen for her, the protagonist's dreams are dashed when she is date-raped and forced to wed her assailant after she becomes pregnant.

Buckling under the pressure and shame of her situation, she flees to Hong Kong, leaving the baby with her mother (Kieu-Chinh), and returns 19 years later as a successful businesswoman. Meanwhile, her resentful daughter (Wu) has grown up, and, unknown to her old-world grandmother, circulates in the club scene, hooking up with a black hip-hop DJ (Treach, of the band Naughty by Nature).

"Face" has been well received since its 2002 Sundance Film Festival debut. Wu says it's because the emotion in the movie is real and raw.

Growing up, was your life anything like Genie's, the character you play in the movie?

"My family situation is not exactly like that. You always have problems with traditional parents. I was born and raised in L.A., and my life was really different (from Genie's). My parents were very supportive of my choices but honestly, I don't really know that much about my culture although I appreciate it. I think we grow up in American culture and that's our reality."

How accurate do you think this movie is in depicting the conflicts between generations?

"I think it's quite accurate. (The director) is Asian herself and comes from a similar family that was in the story line. I think all people can relate to the problems in this movie — not only the Asians but everyone. It is not an Asian film, it is very universal."

In this movie, your character falls in love with an African-American DJ, gets a belly-button ring and stays out partying until 3 a.m., all resulting in disgracing her traditional Chinese grandmother. Are these issues Asian Americans face today?

"I think the hardest thing is that they just have to learn to be their own persons and make their own decisions. There will always be people who will be disappointed in what you do. Genie made a decision to stay with her boyfriend despite her grandmother's disapproval and stuck with what she felt. Especially in Asian cultures, family is important and staying together is very important, but it is also very important to be on your own and be independent. It makes you feel better about yourself when you can do things by yourself and for yourself."

What's your next project?

"Waiting on the premiere of "29 Down" or "Flight 29 Down" — whatever they choose to call it. It should be coming up this fall. It is a TV series for NBC's Discovery Kids Saturday-morning block of shows. It is about 10 kids that crash on a deserted island and have to survive together and learn to live together. It's kind of a cross between 'Gilligan's Island' and 'Lost.' "

How did you like filming in Hawai'i?

"I loved Hawai'i! It was my first time to O'ahu, and the people were so caring and hospitable. I know I now have a home in Hawai'i. Everyone was willing to help, and that's really important when trying to make a successful show. It is so refreshing to find people like that; you don't really see that in LA."

What kind of advice would you give to the girls out there who want to be like you and become an actress?

"This is a tough business. You have to have determination and be extremely sure of yourself that this is what you want to do. I'm in this for the rest of my life — and it's hard, the ups and downs. You have jobs for a few months and then there are some down times. It is a very unsure life, so you have to be sure of yourself. Open (casting) is more common and Asians can get roles where producers don't specify that they want an Asian. The good thing is that there are more Asians popping up in the industry, and there are more roles for them."

Krisha Chachra teaches communication at Hawai'i Pacific University.