By Danielle Chow

“Crazy Rich Asians” is a masterful portrayal of the luxurious Singapore lifestyle—if you’re Chinese. Based on Kevin Kwan’s New York Times Bestseller, the film follows Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a motivated young Asian-American woman who is head over heels for her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding). After he finally persuades her to accompany him back home to Singapore, Rachel is caught unawares when she is faced with his disapproving mother and the revelation that her boyfriend’s wealth redefines the concept of crazy rich.

While many cultural anchors are used in the movie to remind the audience that they are in Asia, there are some distortions. Although the film is set in Singapore and has the first all-Asian cast in 25 years, there isn't one instance in the movie that focused on someone who isn’t Chinese. The lack of representation of non-Chinese Asian characters shows how far we still need to go in representing all Asians. The Filipino and Malay populations of Singapore are hardly featured—if shown at all. Another cliché the movie includes is the lavish lifestyle Asian communities are stereotypically known for. Even Rachel’s friend—hilariously called at one point “Asian Ellen”—has an over-the-top mansion evocative of Donald Trump’s bathrooms. This simultaneously reinforces the generalization that many Asian families live in the lap of luxury and disregards the poverty evident in the Singaporean population that can’t even afford a mask to help them breathe through the polluted haze.

Even with some shortcomings, the film does make a genuine attempt to highlight Asian culture. While Asian-Americans have distinct differences in upbringing from those in Asia, the movie emphasizes the fundament of cultural identity that is never lost. A major aspect of the movie is Rachel's recognition of parental sacrifice and the importance of family. Her mother is the one she goes to for advice on what to do when she finally decides to visit Singapore and later when she is heartbroken. Although there is some miscommunication regarding Asian culture, there is a clear attempt to expose the audience to the Asian lifestyle through the film.

Although there are a few stereotypes, “Crazy Rich Asians” is a huge step for Asian-American culture. It’s a movie that has its flaws built in from years of poor representation by Hollywood. While it’s clear that there is room for improvement, the film should not be faulted for striving to correct the damage that generalized millions of Asian-Americans. Instead, it should be praised for its an all-Asian cast and attempt to portray a dilemma many Asian-Americans face. The appearance of Asian characters regularly in media, even when the film is not expressly concentrated on Asian culture, would be a remarkable sight to see. This movie, along with future Asian representation, exists in defiance of the decades of movies that just didn’t bother.

By Jillian Warren

After years of playing the sidekick, being forced into stereotypical molds and endless Hollywood whitewashing, it’s time for Asian-Americans to make their mark on the media. Throughout film history, generations of Asians have always been underrepresented in Hollywood. Typically cast in supporting roles that emphasize their Asian “exoticness.” They’re usually never the main protagonist. Even when these rare castings do happen, there’s always some sort of racial justification as to why the character is Asian—as if their whole identity is limited to their race.

Take the television series “Fresh Off the Boat.” As one of the first TV shows to focus on an entirely Chinese family, the creation of the series is definitely a milestone. However, despite the show’s positive messages about Asian-American culture, each episode seems to be drowning in cultural stereotypes, one being the cliche “tiger mom” persona exuded by the boys’ mother.

When presented on-screen, Asian characters should not have to be portrayed as different from the rest of society. What we need a more normalized representation of Asian-Americans in popular media.

One film being praised for its Asian-American lead is the Netflix teen rom-com, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” The movie, adapted from a novel by Jenny Han, centers around Lara Jean Covey, a high school junior who is half Korean. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) loves to daydream, especially about her crushes, leading her to write letters to the boys she feels so passionately about. Though she never intends to actually mail them, the letters mysteriously get sent out, and Lara Jean finds herself agreeing to stage a relationship with the school’s heartthrob, Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo.

In early production, Han was determined to keep Lara Jean’s Asian heritage. After months of fighting production companies that wanted to whitewash the main protagonist, they eventually casted Lana Condor. As a Vietnamese-American actress, Condor could never have pictured someone like herself as the lead in a romantic comedy, something that a lot of Asian-Americans can probably relate to.

Keeping the main lead Korean-American allowed filmmakers to incorporate little bits of culture into scenes—like when Lara Jean’s dad attempts to cook a traditional Korean dinner for his daughters, or the iconic Yakult yogurt drink. Above all, the film tells a heartwarming story about a teenager that falls in love and just so happens to be Asian. Her Korean heritage isn’t shoved to the forefront, giving Asian audiences a more normalized depiction without the unnecessary cultural justification.

Without a doubt, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is a film that provides the equal representation society has needed for years. Asian-Americans can watch it and see themselves represented realistically in the female protagonist. Others can connect to Lara Jean’s quirky, relatable personality. It shows that Asians can be relatable to a diverse audience, which is what today’s films should be striving to do. So grab some Yakult from your local Korean grocery store and watch as the movement of Asian American representation takes shape.