The personality of an ethnic group can often be understood through various artistic works, including film. They can bring out subtleties that are often neglected but yet are integral aspects of that culture. Eat Drink Man Woman is an example of a film that portrays the manner in which Taiwanese individuals, and most likely other Asian ethnic groups as well, regard and treat the life experiences thrown upon him/her. This piece of work by Ang Lee demonstrates that a typical Taiwanese will not discuss difficult situations that may arise in his/her interactions with others. Instead, silence is the action one retreats to in these awkward and shocking encounters.

In Eat Drink Man Woman, Lee utilizes numerous scenes to demonstrate the lack of communication between Taiwanese people, especially a Taiwanese family. For instance, when the third daughter becomes pregnant and moves out with her boyfriend, the family simple watches her leave. One would expect an endless discussion following her announcement. However, the family ultimately remains silent and passive in the situation. A similar circumstance occurs in the eldest daughter when she announces her sudden marriage to the volleyball coach. This surprising situation also does not spawn communication of thoughts between the family members. At one point in the film, Wen informs Chef Chu that finding a friend who will communicate his/her true feelings on any situation is next to impossible. His statement effectively summarizes the manner in which Taiwanese people function. For them, feelings, regardless of their intensity, are usually kept within oneself and not discussed.

Ang Lee attempts to bring out an important aspect of the Taiwanese personality in his work Eat Drink Man Woman. Through the scenes he selects to include, he demonstrates the silent method employed by these individuals when encountering any difficulty in their social interactions. He incorporates numerous surprises in the plot such as the pregnancy, the unexpected marriage, the death of Wen, and the marriage between Chu and Jin-Rong to bring out his theme. These issues he presents often become the focus of a film. However, due to fact that there exists a lack of communication between these characters, the film is able to incorporate all these controversial topics and develop smoothly. Every issue that arises is simply presented and not discussed. These techniques allow the audience to witness the reticent nature of Taiwanese individuals, which has become a crucial aspect of their personality.

This film receives 4 go's because it was overall entertaining and made us hungry.