Coming Home Again (2019)

"My job is to be your son"

Coming Home Again was directed and co-written by Wayne Wang, the director of the Joy Luck Club. This independent film’s budget was far below that mainstream film. The story focused on a son making peace with his dying mother as he came home to take care of her and prepare the traditional New Year’s Eve meal for the family.

Chang Rae left his prominent New York job to take care of his dying mother in San Francisco. The family had moved from Korea when he and his sister were young because his dad had landed a good job in the States. The story alternated between Rae’s actions on NYE and his memories of his mother. Stricken with stomach cancer and having dealt with two rounds of chemo, his mom was struggling with the effects of both. Rae patiently took care of her and cleaned up after her. He learned more about his mother and what she sacrificed for them as they talked and reminisced.

Coming Home Again was a short slice of life film revolving around one pivotal day in a son’s life. I wish that they’d played out a few more of the family dynamics as the sister and father were given little time. It might have been for the best as their performances were not as strong as the leads. Rae regretted having to go to an exclusive boarding school when he was young, feeling that he would have gotten to know his mother better if he’d stayed at home. Despite a few childhood resentments it was clear that he adored his mother.

Fair warning, this was a low budget film, the sets, costumes, and even acting reflect that. I've rated it as an independent film shot with limited funds and time.

Not much happened in the story, and yet in small meaningful moments a world of things happened between mother and son. Little irritations revealed deep heartache and pain. Love was communicated in ordinary acts of caregiving and preparing a meal with his mother’s recipes. I’m not an immigrant, so I cannot attest to that element of the story, but I have been a child caring for a dying mother, and know how every shared piece of her thoughts and history was a gift, and every minute act of service, a tiny way of trying to give back the love that had been selflessly shared. Coming Home Again was spare in details, yet still a rewarding watch.

“If you’d stayed home, you might have liked me less.” “I might have liked you more.”

30 January 2025

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