Hugging in Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Scores of movies are full of antagonism and hostility between women (and girls). It is less common to see congeniality and solidarity between female characters. One of the things that struck me about Crazy Rich Asians (2018) was the number of times a woman is shown hugging another woman. I counted at least twelve hugs. It includes hugs between new friends, old friends, a mother and daughter, strangers on an airplane and women of different generations. Compared to most Hollywood movies this is an incredible number of hugs. All this hugging is likely less memorable than the dead-fish-in-hotel-bed scene to most viewers. However, these hugs and the numerous supportive moments definitely counterbalance the antagonism between the lead female, Constance Wu, and two other women (Michelle Yeoh and Jing Lusi). It would be great, not to mention uplifting, to see this much hugging in all movies.

© 2019 Alline Cormier