Rosemead Review: Lucy Liu’s Indie Drama Struggles With Heavy Themes

Bringing stories about cancer or school shootings to the screen is always a challenge, especially when so many films have already explored these topics with depth and nuance. Rosemead, an independent film led by Lucy Liu, tries to carve out its own space but ends up feeling all too familiar. While it shines a light on the often-overlooked mental health struggles within Asian-American families, the rest of the film struggles to stand out or make a lasting impression.

Plot Overview: A Family in Crisis

Inspired by true events, the story centers on Irene, played by Lucy Liu, who is left to pick up the pieces after her husband’s death. Her son Joe, portrayed by Lawrence Shou, is hit especially hard by the loss. As Joe’s schizophrenia worsens, Irene faces her own battle with cancer. Despite her efforts to keep Joe’s reputation intact in their community, the two remain emotionally distant.

Even with support from friends and mental health professionals, Joe’s condition becomes overwhelming for Irene. Cultural expectations make her reluctant to seek outside help, and when she receives devastating news, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Tonal Challenges and Narrative Struggles

The real-life tragedy that inspired Rosemead was widely covered in the media, and the film doesn’t shy away from showing just how much hardship Irene and Joe endure. At times, the sheer number of setbacks feels almost too much to bear, pushing the story to the edge of believability. If this were fiction, you might accuse the writer of being unnecessarily cruel to their characters.

Director Eric Lin tries to embrace the bleakness, but the film’s tone becomes overwhelming. Even with a flawless script and top-tier performances, this would be a tough watch. Unfortunately, the screenplay falls short. Lin and co-writer Marilyn Fu attempt to navigate sensitive territory, but the film often slips into the territory of an after-school special. With so many threads to follow, Rosemead never lingers long enough on any one issue to offer real insight, instead relying on a sense of impending doom to drive the drama.

Performances and Character Depth

Rosemead seems designed to showcase Lucy Liu’s dramatic range, perhaps even as a bid for awards recognition. She delivers a stronger performance in the film’s final act, capturing Irene’s sense of being completely overwhelmed. However, her earlier scenes come off as too restrained, making her emotional outbursts feel forced and pushing the film into melodramatic territory.

Lawrence Shou is the standout here, bringing authenticity and empathy to a role that could easily fall into stereotype. He manages to humanize Joe’s experience, even when the script doesn’t always serve him well. The supporting cast, including Orion Lee, James Chen, and Madison Hu, don’t get enough screen time to leave a real mark, and as the story narrows its focus to Irene and Joe, the film loses some of its depth.

Ambition Versus Execution

Rosemead sets out to tackle important issues, especially the lack of attention given to the mental health of young men and Asian Americans. But the true story at its core is simply too much to handle in a single film. Trying to address so many heavy topics in just ninety minutes leaves little room for the audience to process or connect with the characters.

While the film’s intentions are good, it ultimately feels like it’s reaching for awards without offering enough substance. The result is a movie that’s more exhausting than enlightening, unable to fully explore the complex issues it raises.