MovieChat Forums > Gau ji (2004) Discussion > Was it all a scam?

Was it all a scam?

posted 17 years ago by odradek
8 replies | jump to latest

** SPOILERS **

Does anyone else think that the whole thing might have been a scam by Auntie Mei? She claims to be in her 60's, but the only proof she gave was an old photo that could have easily been faked. Mrs. Li and her other clients would be so desperate to believe that her dumplings really did have rejuvenating powers that they would believe her story that she was really in her 60's.
The fact that Mrs.Li didn't get any noticeably younger to us (although her friends noticed a change that could have been because of her increased self-confidence), perhaps point to the fact that she was in fact just an unscrupulous opportunist who preyed on people's vulnerabilities to make a living.

[–] koomy 17 years ago

then why does she go through all the hassle and danger of getting the foetus'?

[–] mitchellelliott_4892 17 years ago

Then why at the beginning of the film would she eat the stuff herself?

[–] dobbynging 17 years ago

She probably loves the taste .You wouldn't know until you tried it. :)

[–] nokeechia-1 17 years ago

I dont think it is just because of her self confidence growing you also have to take into account that she was pregnant herself. Pregnant women do normally look more radiant etc.

[–] mrura 17 years ago

she was pregnant? did i miss this? where was this alluded to?

[–] onenonlyheather 17 years ago

Mrs Li being pregnant was not in the full length version of "Dumplings" but in the short version that was part of "Three Extremes"

Well, *beep* me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like Mother Theresa?

[–] Lou_500 9 years ago

I wondered this too - Mrs. Li didn't seem to get younger to me and I wondered if she was just having "good make-up days". I think it would be really neat if this was the director's intention and it was all just a placebo effect.

What if the "curse" was all in her head as well? The dinner guests commented on the smell, but all the people she encounters after never remark on it.

[–] [deleted] 7 months ago

the character who played was only 30 years of ago. she looked just fine.