The Wedding Banquet (Ahn, 2025) - BFI Flare

Charming audiences and with gentility and charisma, Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, and Han Gi-chan star as a queer ensemble in this new romantic comedy, The Wedding Banquet. Directed by Andrew Ahn and co-written by James Schamus, this 2025 film is a remake of the 1993 film of the same name. This fresh take brings the original ideas into more current times and, while giving audiences moments of laughter, reminds them that being queer can still be difficult for many individuals. 

Four close friends, Min (Gi-chan), Chris (Yang), Lee (Gladstone), and Angela (Tran), live together and are always there to help each other out. As Min’s student visa windles down, he wishes to marry Chris, not only for a green card, but because he loves him as well. Afraid of commitment, Chris cannot go through with it, so Min devises a plan. Min proposes a green-card marriage with Angela and in return he would pay for her partner’s expensive IVF treatment. Hoping to make things simple with a quick elopement, their plans are thwarted when Min’s grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) surprises the pair with an exorbitant Korean wedding banquet. 

Opening the film in one of the most ironic ways possible, Angela’s straight mother is receiving an award for being an LGBTQ+ ally. The tension between mother and daughter is felt right off the bat, and Lee’s need to comfort Angela and her love for her can be seen as well. But as soon as the couple escape, they’re straight into celebrating Min’s art. Straight from the beginning the comfortable banter between the ensemble is comforting and familiar. Each actor brings their own charm to their character, and it is especially refreshing to witness Gladstone in a role that is lighthearted, and less trauma burdened. It is, however, Tran’s portrayal of Angela that steals the show. Her emotions convey the love she feels for each of her friends, the sadness, and the pain. Everything that is needed from her throughout Angela’s journey in the film is shown at a level one could only dream of. 

Celebrating queer stories, The Wedding Banquet allows for each of its characters to experience personal development throughout the film. Even though the ensemble changes, the change that can be seen in Angela’s mother, May (Joan Chen), and Min’s grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) is the most heartwarming. While showcasing a story of a green card marriage, Ahn and Schamus remind audiences of the difficulties of coming out to your family. Seeing both motherly figures learn how their children need them, and their support and acceptance is heartwarming and a gorgeous expression of love. 

Opposed to smaller, independent queer features, The Wedding Banquet has the performance and production value that is typically seen in blockbuster films. This, however, does not hinder the experience the audience receives, it allows us to believe that perhaps one day more queer stories can be given this chance. 

Flashing lights, gay bars, but underneath genuine human emotions fill the screen during The Wedding Banquet. An updated, and not unnecessary remake of the 1993 film, allowing it to thrive with new references and material. The Wedding Banquet opened the 2025 BFI Flare Festival and is due to release in US cinemas April 18, hopefully with a wider release to follow.