Goldwyn picks up 'Banquet' rights

By VARIETY STAFF

The Samuel Goldwyn Co. has acquired domestic and Mexican rights to Ang Lee's romantic comedy "The Wedding Banquet," which tied for the top prize at the just concluded Berlin Intl.

Film Festival. Goldwyn will release the film later this year.

Set in New York, the movie takes a humorous look at the conflict between modern sexual and social values and old world traditions. Story centers on a young, successful entrepreneur living in America who receives constant pressure from his Taiwanese parents to marry and produce grandkids.

Lee -- whose debut feature was "Pushing Hands"-- also served as producer along with Ted Hope ("Simple Men") and James Schamus ("Poison,""Swoon,""In The Soup"). Schamus, Lee and Neil Feng wrote the script.