Review of The Home Song Stories (2007) by Scott W — 10 Oct 2007

Joan Chen has sashayed into that 40-plus sexiness that is breathtaking for much of this film - the scene of her walking down a Western suburbs shopping strip in Chinese dress and parasol is particularly striking.

Unfortunately the narrative is poorly structured - it is told from the son's perspective but is hinged on a late revelation from mother to daughter, to which the son (in reality director Tony Ayres) was never privy. And in an interview Ayres revealed that he was well into writing the film before he even learnt about that revelation, told to him by his sister. But the film depends on that information to balance Chen's character, who would otherwise be a caricature of gloom and abusiveness - that the film was commenced without its lynchpin value is a real concern.

Still, overall, it packs a punch thanks to Chen.