A 2022 academic study on cross-cultural romance films noted that Saving Face relies on untranslated Chinese phrases to create intimacy with viewers who understand Mandarin, and alienation from those who don’t. That gap is intentional. However, English subtitles actually enhance the experience for non-speakers without ruining the effect.
The Sony Pictures Classics DVD includes English subtitles for the hearing impaired and English SDH. Available via: saving+face+2004+english+subtitles+link
Some users search for a because they already have a video file (e.g., a DVD rip or a recorded copy) but lack subtitles. If that is your situation, here is the safe, ethical path: A 2022 academic study on cross-cultural romance films