Kathy Meng is a Chinese-American writer/director who was born in Philadelphia and raised in Beijing and Massachusetts before attending NYU's film program. She has written and directed several short films with “Elite Match” a short inspired by the experiences of her mom, is her third one.
“Elite March” is screening at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles
Lily is a Chinese single mother adjusting to living and working in Massachusetts after moving there from Beijing with her daughter, Joyce. One afternoon, Lily leaves Joyce at home alone to attend a mixer hosted by the dating website Elite Match. However, neither the mixer nor what happens back home with her daughter was what she expected.
The movie opens with a cheerful and romantic tone, reminiscent of a French comedy, which sets the stage for the loving and humorous relationship between Lily and Joyce. However, as the story progresses, it shifts its focus to the challenges of online dating, which is portrayed in a witty and incisive way. The difficulty of finding a suitable partner after a certain age is underscored by the random matching system of the dating service, as illustrated by Lily's unsuccessful attempts to find a match. Her rejection by a potential suitor and her eventual encounter with a man outside the party serve as poignant commentary on the pitfalls of modern dating.
The movie then moves back to single motherhood as topic, with Kathy Meng showing how cruel children can be on occasion, with the shocked and still anxious look of Lily after the particular interaction with her daughter being one of the highlights of the movie. At the same time, the conclusion of the story is both a testament to “proper” motherhood and a second note of optimism in a movie that could easily have become melodramatic.
Kathy Meng's ability to shift between different styles is impressive in this 14-minute short film. It begins as a family drama, then transitions into a romantic comedy, and ultimately returns to a family drama, demonstrating the skillful direction of Meng and the editing of Braulio Lin. The relatively fast tempo of the film matches the pace of these changes, resulting in a smooth and engaging viewing experience. Additionally, the intelligent humor – exemplified by the “wikihow” scene – adds to the overall entertainment value here.
Rachel Lu as Lily is quite convincing, in all the aspects of the movie, with the highlight of her performance being her evident awkwardness at the mixer, as much as her resolve into trying to making something out of a bad situation. Hana Kim as Joyce is also natural, with the chemistry of the two, particularly in the moments where they joke, being among the best aspects of the movie.
“Elite Match” is a very smart film, that manages to highlight its comments through both realism and humor, thus resulting in a rather entertaining spectacle.
