Ivy and Julie 1976: A Happy Balance

Released on Amazon Prime in March 2017 

Plot

Ivy's family is hosting the extended family for Chinese New Year. Julie, her mom, and sister will be coming too, and Julie volunteers to help clean the Ling home. Ivy's frustrated with trying to balance her Chinese heritage with her American life, and worries about sticking out among her peers, none of whom have her background. While she's busy preparing for the New Year celebrations, she's also getting ready for a big gymnastics meet...and then Julie points out that the meet is the same day as Chinese New Year. 

Ivy feels like she can't vent to Julie, because Julie is dealing with the tensions that come after divorce. Her sister and her dad aren't on speaking terms, and her sister is upset with Julie for going to their father's for visitation. Ivy's parents invited both Julie's mom and dad to the Chinese New Year dinner, and Julie's worried about them fighting (her family ends up being civil).

Ivy's frustrations come to a head when her parents realize the conflict of the dates. They leave it up to Ivy to decide, which is a HUGE decision for her to make on her own. Ivy's mom is worried that gymnastics will take up so much of Ivy's time that Ivy won't have anything left for her Chinese heritage, especially after Ivy skips Chinese school to go to an extra gymnastics practice. Ivy is conflicted too. A heart-to-heart with her grandparents gives her a lot to think about: feeling like an outsider, the importance of family, being proud of who she is, courage.

Back at home, Ivy decorates the home for Chinese New Year, and makes her mother's favorite Chinese dish with her grandparents' help. She decides to go to the dinner instead of the meet (they're not only the same day, but the same time), but she's still torn up about it. Her mom overhears Ivy talking to Julie about her anguish, and tells Ivy that the decision she makes has to be right for Ivy.

The next day sees Ivy at the meet...and her whole family there to watch. Ivy performs well enough to get a medal (probably qualifying for the regional meet). At a later dinner, Ivy gets compliments on her athleticism as well as her grasp of the Chinese language and how well she made some food.


Misc

I can't figure out where this was filmed.

The movie takes place in during the Chinese New Year celebration in 1976, which was Saturday, January 31 as the movie depicts. It started the year of the dragon. (As I'm writing this in 2020, we're in the year of the rat.) However, her dad says the meet and dinner are on January 30.

Ivy shares a room with her younger sister. The room is covered with pictures of gymnasts and pandas.

Julie listens to "Saturday Night" by the Bay City Rollers, which was released in 1974.

I'm surprised that Ivy's family didn't know what day the big meet was until less than two weeks before it happens. Her mom is on a first-name basis with the coach.

The way the Ivy's balance beam performance for the big meet is cut, it looks like there's a stand-in for Ivy's actress. 


Cast

Ivy Ling - Nina Lu
Julie Albright - Hannah Nordberg
Marilyn Ling - Gwedoline Yeo
Sam Ling - Rob Yang
Andrew Ling - Lance Lim
Po-Po - Elizabeth Sung
Gung-Gung - Tzi Ma
Coach Gloria - Caitlin McGee
Auntie Yin Wa - Karen Huie
Missy Ling - Kyra Lyn
Cathy - Zane Smith