The Wedding Banquet’s

by

SPOILERS are ahead for The Wedding Banquet, now playing in theaters.

I’m thrilled that ‘The Wedding Banquet’ is among the new films in the LGBTQ+ genre. It stands out due to its nuanced portrayal of queer individuals, and while there are numerous movies addressing the struggles and hardships faced by this community, Andrew Ahn’s remake brings a more intricate perspective than we typically see on the silver screen.

As a cinephile, I must say this film delves deep into the struggles of its characters in an incredibly relatable manner, yet manages to infuse moments of joy, happiness, and even laughter among the audience. Consequently, during my interview with the cast, it was only natural that we delved into the heartwarming finale together.

Lily Gladstone Reacts To The Wedding Banquet’s Adorable Ending

As a passionate cinephile, I found myself captivated by the unique narrative of “The Wedding Banquet.” Initially, the story revolves around a pair – Gladstone’s Lee and Kelly Marie Tran’s Angela – who are grappling with the financial burdens associated with IVF. In an unexpected twist, their hopes for resolution seem to miraculously materialize when their friend Min (Han Gi-Chan) finds himself in need of a green card marriage to legally reside in America. Faced with this predicament, Angela offers to tie the knot with Min while his boyfriend Chris (Bowen Yang) wrestles with the question of why he’s not yet ready to pledge “I do” to him.

In an unexpected twist of circumstances, Angela finds herself pregnant with Chris’ child following a boisterous evening out, coincidentally during which Lee’s IVF treatment yields success. To add to the mix, Chris surprisingly crashes Min and Angela’s official wedding ceremony to marry him, replacing it with his own (which included a witty Star Wars reference). During our conversation with Gladstone, Tran, and Han, the Academy Award nominee shared her thoughts on the conclusion:

When viewing the climax with a group, I adore the collective response of “Oh, oh, ahhhh!!!” It’s always my favorite moment. And whether you anticipated the outcome or were taken aback by the ending, it’s a delightful surprise. The way it was filmed adds to this, as the initial plan was to show the reflection of the crib but have the baby being grabbed from an off-screen location first. This clever switch helps maintain suspense for a bit longer.

The film titled “The Wedding Banquet” was unveiled at Sundance earlier this year, receiving overwhelming praise, including our own review. Subsequently, it joined the list of 2025’s cinema releases. Gladstone expressed her delight over the unexpected twist when Angela and Lee are revealed to have had two babies, and they are now raising them with Min and Chris. Continuing her thoughts, Gladstone highlighted that she found this “surprise reveal” to be a captivating element of the movie.

In the end, they all shared an affectionate family group hug; these two infants will eventually grow up together as brother and sister. It’s a heartwarming, revolutionary instance of love that transcends colonial boundaries.

Given the movie’s theme of accepting found family and imperfections, it’s fitting that Lee comes to terms with Angela’s infidelity and they form a special bond as parents to not just one, but two children. This heartwarming conclusion is a testament to their growth and acceptance.

The Sweet Reason Why Lily Gladstone Wants A Sequel To The Wedding Banquet

I expressed my enthusiasm to the cast about the idea of having the four queer characters from “The Wedding Banquet” engage in some fun adventures as they raise their children in a sequel. Happily, Gladstone echoed similar sentiments, particularly because of one specific reason. In her own words:

I’m just as excited as you are about the possibility of a sequel! It would be wonderful to attend the naming ceremonies for those two children, especially since they would each receive a traditional Duwamish name in a longhouse.

The Duwamish is a local Native American tribe residing in Washington, serving as the film’s backdrop. Prior to shooting, Lily Gladstone proposed that her character be explicitly portrayed as Duwamish to authentically represent the environment being depicted. Although the movie doesn’t explore her character’s indigenous heritage extensively, she suggests that potential sequels could delve deeper, particularly in terms of showcasing their family dynamics and incorporating some of her cultural customs, especially when raising children.

Gladstone consistently introduces compelling characters from indigenous backgrounds in the films she’s involved with. Moreover, The Wedding Banquet boasted a large cast and crew who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s essential that we see more movies representing the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those with endings as heartwarming as this one.

Read More

2025-04-23 03:41