(Constance Tsang, US 2024, 116 min., DCP, Mandarin with English subtitles)
Within the confines of a massage parlor in Flushing, Queens, Amy (Wu Ke-Xi) and Didi (Haipeng Xu) navigate romance, happiness, and the obligations of family thousands of miles from home. Despite the physical and emotional toll their work extracts, the women who live at the parlor have fortified an impenetrable sisterhood. When tragedy strikes on the Lunar New Year, Amy is forced to consider her own destiny for the first time ever. Despite finding solace in the company of Cheung (Lee Kang-sheng), Amy must leave the city and prioritize her own spirit in order to survive. In an unseen part of New York, Blue Sun Palace explores the lives of transient souls trying to find a sense of permanence. This debut feature from director Constance Tsang re-connects her with the neighborhood she grew up in, while also exploring the decisions we make after a loss.