It’s a double feature! In Saving Face (2004), written and directed by Alice Wu, the central love story is that of two women, but equally important to the film is a different love story between a mother and child, which unearths what happens when familial obligation enforced by cultural norms is at odds with desire. Nowhere (1997), written and directed by Gregg Araki, is a dark and dire, yet comical, surreal exploration of a day in the life in Los Angeles, described by Araki as “Beverly Hills, 90210 on acid.”

Each screening will be followed by a short conversation with guests to be announced.

Please note the films are rated R and parental supervision is advised for guests under 17.

7:00pm – Saving Face
9:00pm – Nowhere
$5 General, FREE for JANM Members
COMP CODE: NOTAFLOF

About Saving Face:

When 48-year-old widow Hwei-Lan Gao (Joan Chen) informs her less-than understanding father she’s pregnant, he banishes her from Flushing until she remarries or proves Immaculate Conception. With nowhere else to go, Hwei-Lan moves in with her grown daughter, Wil (Michelle Krusiec), a Manhattan doctor who doesn’t want a roommate, especially since she’s met Viv (Lynn Chen), her sexy young lover. So Wil does what any dutiful child with an expectant, unmarried mother on her hands would do: she proceeds to set Hwei-Lan up with every eligible bachelor in town.

About Nowhere:

Nowhere is a stylized foray into the nightmare world of adolescent highs and lows, but more than that, it functions as a study of an entire generation and the direction they’re headed. Where The Doom Generation seemed to be a wake-up call, Nowhere is more of a reflexive inquiry into the destiny of the seemingly apathetic youth who place more emphasis on style than substance. An ensemble piece with James Duval (star of all three of the films in the Teen Apocalypse Trilogy), Nowhere features a cast that mixes well-known faces—Ryan Philippe, Christina Applegate, Debi Mazar, Heather Graham, Guillermo Diaz, Denise Richards, Beverly D’Angelo, Shannen Doherty, and Tracy Lords—with up-and-comers. Restored and remastered, Araki’s final version includes scenes omitted from the original release due to rating restrictions. Nowhere is a sexy and wild ride, so buckle up, remain seated, and enjoy the ultimate fast trip to oblivion.

The Wedding Banquet (Everything in This House is Gay (And Asian): Contemporary Queer History Through Cinema) is organized by Japanese American National Museum as part of the 2026 Circa: Queer Histories Festival, presented by One Institute.  

• Japanese American National Museum

  The mission of the Japanese American National Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience.