DIVA sat down with the stars of Andrew Ahn’s new film to discuss why this story matters more than ever
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY UNIVERSAL
Nestled away on London’s Southbank, queer joy is blooming. The reason? The cast of Andrew Ahn’s new film The Wedding Banquet has descended on the UK, ready to bring sapphic and IVF representation to the big screen on 9 May. Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran have brought the sun with them from the States, or perhaps it’s just the clear warmth of their friendship which has fast-tracked us into Spring.
Meeting ahead of the BFI Flare Opening Night (19 March) which saw The Wedding Banquet’s first screening in the UK, it’s evident that this film has been more than a project. It’s personal, it’s passionate, and it’s portraying queerness in a way we have rarely seen. Starring as Angela (Tran) and Lee (Gladstone), the pair play a couple who have been unlucky with their IVF treatments but can’t afford another round. Their friend Min, who isn’t out yet, has a lot of money but a soon-to-expire visa. The only natural solution to these problems? A green-card marriage between Angela and Min.
It’s likely that you’ve already seen Lily and Kelly on your screens before. Lily made history in 2024 when they became the first Native American actor to be nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category for their role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon. Kelly gained global success in her role as Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
While Lily has played a queer character before, starring in Erica Tremblay’s film Fancy Dance, The Wedding Banquet offered them the unique chance to play a character going through IVF on screen. At first, they were hesitant. Having played a number of incredibly heavy roles throughout their career, the idea of playing someone who loses a child was difficult for Lily. They tell me that they had an “intimate understanding” of Lee’s struggles to conceive as their mother had lost a child before they were born. However, after speaking with Andrew it was clear that authenticity was at the heart of Lee’s storyline.
“The IVF narrative is so important especially in the States right now,” Lily tells me. “It’s one of the rights that are under attack for both queer and straight women who are trying to have children through IVF.”
With motherhood at the forefront of this film, it’s no surprise that family – specifically chosen family – is a theme that runs at the very core of the story. Alongside the core couples, the film dives into the stories of Angela’s mother May Chen (Joan Chen), who takes on the role of an overly optimistic ally, and Min’s grandmother Ja-Young (Youn Yuh-jung), who is forced to confront her traditional views.
For Kelly, who actually came out during the production of this film, the parental dynamics in the film hit close to home. “I think my mum is having a hard time with my queerness at the moment,” Kelly shares. “When I watched the final movie, it was so healing to see the two matriarchs of these families supporting their children.”
For Lily, the concept of chosen family runs deeper than queerness. Having grown up on the Blackfeet Reservation, she tells me about the power of families adopting each other. When reading the script for the first time, she knew how vital it was for Lee, who is Duwamish, to create a family on her own land despite the fact that the Duwamish community is not federally recognised in Seattle. “[For Lee] holding onto this house is more than holding onto a lease. It’s holding onto a claim to be in that place. There are higher stakes surrounding having a biological child because it is continuing that lineage – something important when 95% of your population was eradicated.”
Behind the gags and the vomit (if you know you know), The Wedding Banquet is a powerful portrayal of queer family. At a time where LGBTQIA rights are in flux across the world, Lily and Kelly are standing strong to show that sapphic storylines can have a happy ending. What do they hope audiences take away?
“Ultimately what matters more than the way society or your family sees you is supporting your kids – even if that’s a scary thing,” Lily says.
“The dream is that people watch this movie and recognise that there’s a way to support our kids even if that’s scary. I hope people see what support looks like and how to love your child unconditionally. You don’t need to take up the mantle,” Kelly adds.
The Wedding Banquet comes to UK cinemas on 9 May.
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