Michelle Yeoh's Mom's Multiverse As A Magic Asian Mother Moves Immigrant Audiences

"Everything Everywhere All at Once," an American action fantasy starring actress Michelle Yeoh, has been on a roll since its North American debut in mid-to-late March, with box office numbers climbing week by week and showing in 2,220 theaters, up from 38. Michelle Yeoh's breakout performance as a traditional Asian immigrant wife and mother trying to be an "all-powerful hero" in this fantastical fantasy has touched many immigrant audiences even more.

Evelyn, the main character in "Ma's Multiverse," was originally named Michelle by the director, a nod to the lead actress, Michelle Yeoh. But Yeoh told The Associated Press that she insisted the main character change his name and not use hers.

"I believe that this character, who is so richly written, deserves her own voice," Ms. Yeoh said. "Her voice is the voice of the mother, the aunt, the grandmother, who you pass in Chinatown or the supermarket and don't even look at, and who you take for granted; she never had a voice."

Ms. Yeoh, 59, described "Mama's Multiverse" as "an indie film on steroids"; Directed and written by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the film combines action, science fiction, comedy and family drama with its protagonists in an ever-changing ensemble. Ms. Yeoh said the first word that came to her mind after reading the script was "crazy." "I was shocked that they had the courage to write a script like this and put all these things in it; not only is the content bizarre, but the family connection is so strong."

The film certainly touched a chord with many audiences, especially those of Asian descent. Many took to social media to tell how they cried during the last hour of the movie, when Evelyn's relationship with her daughter Joy reached the point of separation; Some said they felt as if they were watching their immigrant mother become the hero of her life story for the first time. Others said the film helped them empathize with their equally moody parents.

The release of "Mom's Multiverse" comes at a time when AsiAn-Americans have become scapegoats for the COVID-19 pandemic, being targeted by racists in Chinatown, cities and suburbs in the US, with Asian women reported to suffer disproportionately from hate crimes.

For Asian women, the film was a breath of fresh air. Hate incidents like last year's shooting at a massage parlor in Atlanta have reignited discussions about the tendency to sexualize or demean Asian women. Through Ms. Yeoh's changing face, the film offers a glimpse into the stereotypes of Asian women, from the comic to the martial arts to the heartbreaking anxiety of Asians exploring and struggling in different ways.