NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (August 2025): Criterion have transferred Alice Wu's Saving Face to Blu-ray. Shot on a modest budget, the film's "look" emphasizes authenticity through location-based cinematography and production design that capture the vibrancy and constraints of Flushing, Queens. The Criterion Blu-ray edition of Saving Face features a high-definition digital master approved by director Alice Wu, presenting the film in 1080P that significantly upgrades from prior DVD releases, capturing the intimate close-ups with enhanced clarity, balanced colors, and reduced noise. There was some disappointment over the absence of a new 4K scan - attributed to rights holder Sony not prioritizing a fresh transfer - the existing master still delivers sharp details in textures like clothing and urban backdrops, minimal artifacts, and a warm, naturalistic palette that preserves the film's romantic glow and cultural authenticity without compression issues. While not elevated to the filmic textures of 4K UHD - this HD presentation looks damn fine, regardless.

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English / Mandarin / Shanghainese languages. The film's "sound" weaves a eclectic soundtrack with playful, evocative music to underscore themes of repression, desire, and familial bonds. The sound design, led by Steve Borne (Manhunter) with mixing by Noah Timan (Fantastic Mr. Fox,) prioritizes clarity and separation, ensuring dialogue - often bilingual in English and Mandarin - remains crisp amid bustling community scenes, with no audio drop-outs or distortions. The Criterion remaster's 5.1 surround elevates this, providing immersive depth to ambient noises like subway rumbles or dance hall chatter, which underscore cultural isolation and connection. Criterion offer optional English subtitles (SDH) or a second option for "foreign languages" on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray.

The supplements on this Criterion Blu-ray release are thoughtfully curated to celebrate Alice Wu's debut, starting with an audio commentary by Wu that delves into her semi-autobiographical script, production hurdles, and thematic inspirations like "saving face" in Chinese culture. New interviews feature Wu, for almost 25 minutes, reflecting on her journey from tech to filmmaking and Joan Chen - 18 minutes - discussing her role's vulnerability and the film's representation of Asian women. There are less than 5-minutes of deleted scenes that come with optional Wu commentary explaining cuts for pacing; a behind-the-scenes featurette running 9 minutes - that offers on-set glimpses; a Sundance program lasting a dozen minutes - that captures 2005 festival energy with cast insights. A trailer rounds out the disc; and a booklet essay by critic Phoebe Chen provides scholarly analysis on queer identity and dispersion of a people from their original homeland. These extras, totaling over an hour of video content, enrich appreciation for the film's narrative.

Alice Wu's Saving Face is a groundbreaking romantic comedy-drama that intertwines themes of queer identity, cultural expectations, and familial bonds within the Chinese-American diaspora. Drawing from Wu's personal experiences, including her own coming out to her mother, the film blends humor, tenderness, and poignant drama to explore the complexities of "saving face" - a Chinese cultural concept referring to preserving reputation and avoiding shame. As a queer Asian-American rom-com, it stands out for its authentic representation, subverting stereotypes and offering a hopeful narrative amid generational and cultural conflicts. At its heart, Saving Face dissects the Chinese value of "mianzi" (face), where personal actions reflect on family honor. Wil's closeted life and Ma's banishment illustrate how this pressure stifles individuality, particularly in diasporic communities clinging to traditions amid American assimilation. The film critiques coercive mimeticism - the expectation for minorities to perform exaggerated cultural authenticity - through gossip and ostracism, as seen in the community's judgment of Ma's pregnancy (at 48 challenges ageist and cultural taboos.) Yet, it offers hope: the ending's public embrace suggests traditions can evolve to accommodate queerness without total rupture. Criterion's Blu-ray edition of Saving Face is a commendable package that revives Alice Wu's charming debut with director-approved video and audio that, while not revolutionary in transfer, faithfully and vibrantly presents the film's blend of humor, romance, and cultural commentary, making it accessible and enjoyable for modern audiences. The robust extras add significant value, offering personal and critical perspectives that deepen engagement, all housed in elegant packaging with Ping Zhu's evocative new cover art. A very warm recommendation.

Gary Tooze