Director: Eric Lin
Cast: Lucy Liu, Lawrence Shou, Orion Lee, Jennifer Lim, Madison Hu, James Chen
Screenplay: Marilyn Fu
97 mins. Rated R for some language.

Irene (Lucy Liu, Kill Bill vol. 1) is a print shop worker who is hiding her terminal illness from her 17-year-old son Joe (Lawrence Shou), pretending they have a normal life in sunny California. But things for Irene and Joe are not normal. Joe has schizophrenia, sees a therapist regularly, and takes medication, but they aren’t helping in the way they need to. Those around them can see things worsening, including Joe’s friends and Irene’s circles, where some of the women talk about them behind their backs. As Irene begins discovering more and more concerning details about Joe, she has to come to terms with the fact that her son is not well, though it may be too late.

This is a harrowing story made all the more palpable due to its lead performance from Lucy Liu. Irene is a subdued character portrayal, but Liu’s concern for her son as she starts to discover lead to some disturbing outcomes, especially as she realizes that she needs to plan for Joe’s 18th birthday, in which she is no longer able to protect him. Irene has this constant push and pull as she struggles with the realization that action to protect Joe is needed, and she frequently pretends that the help he is receiving is actually making things worse, but deep down, she doesn’t entirely believe that. She is in flux with the secrets she keeps, the secrets all parents are forced to keep, and the frightening but necessary questions surrounding our loved ones.

I don’t have schizophrenia, and I haven’t experienced much of it from a family friend or loved one, but from my understanding of it, Rosemead has a very realistic and effective depiction that allowed for understanding and empathy. The fractured memories and repeating voices that emanate from several sequences was difficult to get through, but it allowed me to see Joe’s life, and newcomer Lawrence Shou is excellent as Irene’s son in a very difficult and taxing role. Joe’s hiding his worst parts from the world, which never really gets rid of them, and when his mother pretends there is nothing wrong, he clings to that energy. I should note that the film makes it clear that most people with schizophrenia are nonviolent and this is a rare case of concern for someone struggling with the disorder.

The direction is very strong, but I think there is a disconnect between the writing and the direction for the climax of the film. This is based on a true story (as stated at the film’s start), and while I won’t get into how the story plays out, the finale of the film feels uninformed throughout the rest of the narrative. The way the film climaxes is in line with the true story, but there is nothing throughout the film that informs the character decisions made near the end, and some events feel like they’ve come out of nowhere and don’t entirely feel in line with the characters. A few fixes throughout the first portion of the script would have aided in these outcomes. The finale is powerful nonetheless, but I wish there was more leading up to it.

Rosemead is the tale of a mother and her son who struggle with understanding themselves and each other. Oftentimes, we’re able to save each other before it’s too late, and this story is one of a winding down clock leading to an inevitability. It’s a haunting and often harrowing experience made by two incredible performances that’s never an easy watch but it is a worthwhile one.

3.5/5
-Kyle A. Goethe