Beneath the Banyan Tree

(2021)

Synopsis

Abandoned by her husband, a demanding matriarch, Mrs. Woo, struggles to protect her family's reputation by setting high but inconsistent expectations on her disreputable son and strong-willed daughter, Ai-Jia. Anxious to escape her mother's control, Ai-Jia leaves China to the U.S. After her son and daughter-in-law are jailed, Mrs. Woo and her teenage grandchildren, pliable Yu and rebellious Qi, must seek shelter with Ai-Jia. Mrs. Woo desires to uphold her family's remaining reputation. She disapproves of Ai-Jia's American boyfriend, whom they live with, yet, she isn't aware of Ai-Jia's secret career difficulties. Meanwhile, they are failing to manage two teenagers developing their sexual identities. Four people, three generations forced to start a new life under each other's expectations. What could go wrong?

Cast

Travis Goodman, Kenny Leu, Jason Wang, Lee Chen, Cecile Namer