Watch Seeking Asian Female

Seeking Asian Female is a documentary film directed by Debbie Lum that explores the complex and often messy world of interracial relationships. At the heart of the film is the relationship between Steven, a 60-year-old white American man, and Sandy, a 30-year-old Chinese woman he meets through an online dating site. The film begins with Lum introducing us to Steven, a self-described “Yellow Fever” sufferer with a long history of dating Asian women. After several failed relationships, he decides to take his search for love to the next level and look for a Chinese wife through online dating. It’s here that he meets Sandy, a young woman from China who is looking for a better life in America.

From the start, the relationship between Steven and Sandy is tenuous. There’s a significant language barrier, cultural misunderstandings, and a significant age difference between them. Lum expertly captures the awkwardness of their first meeting, as Steven tries to impress Sandy with his Chinese language skills and Sandy struggles to understand his rambling English.

Despite all these challenges, Steven and Sandy decide to move forward with their relationship, much to the concern of Steven’s friends and family. We see the couple navigate the ups and downs of dating, from Steven’s awkward attempts at intimacy to Sandy’s growing discomfort with Steven’s obsession with Chinese culture.

As the relationship progresses, Lum explores the underlying dynamics at play in Steven’s desire for an Asian partner. She interviews him about his past relationships and his attraction to Asian women, which he claims is based on a deep respect for traditional Chinese culture. However, Lum challenges this assertion, pointing out how Steven’s fetishizing of Asian women is not only dehumanizing but also based on harmful stereotypes.

At the same time, Lum also explores Sandy’s motivations for dating Steven. As a young woman from a poor Chinese village, she is drawn to the idea of a better life in America, but she’s also dealing with her own feelings of insecurity and loneliness. Lum goes with Sandy as she returns to China to visit her family, exploring the cultural divide between the two countries and the challenges that Sandy faces as an immigrant in America.

The film culminates in an unexpected twist that throws Steven and Sandy’s relationship into turmoil. Lum expertly captures the emotional rollercoaster that both characters go through as they try to come to grips with the reality of their situation.

What makes Seeking Asian Female such a compelling film is Lum’s ability to delve deep into the complex issues at play in interracial relationships. While Steven and Sandy’s story is certainly unique, the issues they grapple with – communication breakdowns, cultural divides, and the underlying power dynamics at play – are universal. Lum’s documentary is a powerful reminder that love is messy, complicated, and often messy, but it’s also ultimately worth pursuing.

Overall, Seeking Asian Female is a fascinating and thought-provoking documentary that offers a rare glimpse into the world of interracial relationships. Lum’s deft touch as a filmmaker and her willingness to explore the complicated issues at play in this story make this a must-watch film for anyone interested in relationships, race, and culture.