Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-Jung Talk ‘The Wedding Banquet’

Upon the release of Michael Mann’s film “Heat” in 1995, cinephiles rejoiced at watching acting legends Robert De Niro and Al Pacino share the screen together for the first time. One can’t help but get that same feeling when seeing legends Youn Yuh-jung and Joan Chen share the screen as their characters bond over a dinner table in “The Wedding Banquet.”

Youn is the legendary South Korean actor whose first American film, “Minari,” landed her an Academy Award for supporting actress. Chen is the Chinese-American actor and director who achieved superstardom in China before starring in 1987’s “The Last Emperor,” which won nine Academy Awards. Since then, she has maintained a busy career not only in Hollywood, but internationally.

In “The Wedding Banquet,” the two are presented as very different parental figures. Youn is the grandmother of Min (played by newcomer Han Gi-Chan), a gay man in love with Chris (Bowen Yang) who proposes a green card marriage to his lesbian friend Angela (Kelly Marie Tran). Coming from a reserved Korean family, Min’s sexuality has never been discussed with his grandparents. Chen, on the other hand, plays Angela’s mother May, an extrovert who is a little too proud of her gay daughter — or just really loves the attention she receives from being so visibly supportive.

How much do you both relate to these characters? Joan, even though your character needs to be the center of attention, I find her so endearing.

Director Andrew Ahn adapted the screenplay with producer James Schamus from Ang Lee’s 1993 rom-com — a movie that Chen at one point was going to star in. Chen and Youn, who goes by YJ, spoke to Variety about relating to their characters, how filmmaking differs around the world and finally working together.

Joan Chen: We’re both mothers and I know how even with the best intentions, you can inadvertently hurt your children. So in that sense, I could relate to her. But my…