Crazy Rich Asians was released in August of 2018. The movie begins with Rachel accompanying her boyfriend Nick to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. However, what she doesn’t know is that her longtime boyfriend and his family happen to be extremely wealthy. Coming from such a wealthy family, Nick is considered to be one of Singapore’s most eligible bachelors.
The film focuses on Rachel Chu and Nick Young, an Asian couple faced with socioeconomic differences. Rachel Chu, a normal girl from New York who was born an Asian American, realizes just how different her life is from Nick’s when meeting his family and closest friends for the very first time. When meeting Nick’s family for the first time, Rachel is shocked to realize just how different they are both culturally and socioeconomically. Although Rachel is Asian, growing up in America has made her more accustomed to an Americanized way of living. Therefore, when meeting Nick and his family she is shocked to realize just how culturally different they’re families raised them.
Crazy Rich Asians is an interesting film that utilizes the concept of othering. Throughout the movie Nick’s mother Elanor is constantly patronizing Rachel and making her feel lesser because of her socioeconomic and American background. This lower socioeconomic background and being raised as an Asian American classifies Rachel as an “other” in Elanor’s eyes. Because Rachel and Nick come from two very different worlds, Elanor believes Rachel is not good enough to be with her son Nick.
Therefore, because of these differences, Rachel is seeking approval from Nick’s family the entire trip. The need for Elanor as well as Nick’s other disapproving family members throughout the film goes to show just how the classification of being an “other” impacts Rachel. She tries to win Elanor’s approval the entirety of the movie by eradicating her title of being an “other”
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