production photo of cast of Joy Luck Club

The Joy Luck Club Premieres

Ni hao! “Between every mother and daughter there is a story.” These words were proclaimed on the promotional materials for The Joy Luck Club, released on this day in 1993. The lives of three generations of Chinese women are interwoven in this story of mothers and daughters attempting to break through the barriers that often stand in the way of understanding each other. The film’s name is derived from a group of Chinese women, now Americans, who have met for 30 years to play Mahjong, a game with tiles that requires skill, strategy, and a certain degree of luck. Disney’s movie version of The Joy Luck Club was based on the book of the same title, by Amy Tan, who served as co-producer and co-screenwriter on the film adaptation. On behalf of D23, may each day bring you joy and luck. Zai jian!