One of the best films of the 90's, I think. This would have been my favorite film of 1993, if not for Schindler's List.

Although I saw the movie first and then read the book, this is one of the few examples where I think the movie surpasses the book.

Amy Tan is a magnificent storyteller, and one of the best out there, IMHO. It is regrettable that many others don't realize this, as she writes primarily about Mother/Daughter relationships from a Chinese point of view, and therefore many don't want to give her a chance. The book "The Bonesetter's Daughter" by her is also magnificent.

Each time I see "The Joy Luck Club," I pull new things out of it. However, the speech towards the end of the movie about her daughter having "best quality heart" always breaks me up.

Four women from China formed the Joy Luck Club in San Francisco. One of them Suyuan Woo passes away leaving a secret in China for her daughter June. Suyuan had left two babies behind during the war. The others of the club have their own secrets which affect each of their daughters. Lindo was forced into an arranged marriage and her daughter Waverly Jong struggles for her approval. Ying-Ying had a womanizing husband and she does something horrific. She finds herself without soul to pass onto her daughter Lena who struggles without respect from her husband. An-Mei's mother was disowned by her family and forced to be the fourth wife of a brutal man. An-Mei's daughter Rose Hsu is married to Ted Jordan (Andrew McCarthy) but their marriage is floundering.

This is a movie about and probably for mothers and daughters. The complicated relationships are touching. It is a lot and maybe too many stories. It leaves the movie with an anthology feel. Some of them are really compelling. These are interesting stories portrayed by actors who are rarely used as leads during 90's Hollywood.

Two years before he directed "Smoke", Wayne Wang directed the equally great "Joy Luck Club", based on Amy Tan's novel about some Chinese-American families in San Francisco. Throughout the movie, we get to see the various factors that led people to immigrate to the United States. A particularly effective scene is when the girl is forced to marry the immature boy.

All in all, "The Joy Luck Club" is a very well done movie. It doesn't have a particularly well known cast (Victor Wong was the only cast member whom I recognized),but it doesn't need one. Everyone does a great job with the roles. A perfect movie.