Arts and Culture

Chinese movie review : "The Road Home"

Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Sun Honglei, Zhao Hao Director: Zhang Yimou
Running Time: 86 minutes
Language: Mandarin
Certificate: U
Year: 1999
Available to buy on DVD. Released by Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment.
Web site: www.sonyclassics.com/theroadhome/

Synopsis: The movie tells the story of a young man returning to his home village after the death of his father, a remote village schoolteacher, to arrange the funeral. The son, upon his mother's insistence to follow the traditional customs, carries his father's coffin on foot on the 'road home' from the village hospital, despite the considerable distance, so that he does not forget his way home. In the process the son reflects on his parents' courtship, how his mother 'Di', a young girl falls in love with the new schoolteacher from the city.

Review: This is a film that will warm your heart from beginning to end. The present is filmed in monochrome. It is wintertime and you can feel the bleakness of the deserted village and the loneliness of the widow's loss of her beloved husband.
As the story unfolds, the courtship of the young couple is shown in vibrant warm colours, where the natural surrounding is in full bloom. This clearly represents the love that is blooming in Di's heart and her youth. This contrast is most effective. Zhang Ziyi, (before Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame) is flawless as the young girl whose determination, hope and love never wavered. She patiently waits hours to see the new schoolteacher and walks by the school each day to hear his voice, for she was never tired of hearing it. Even with her mother's discouragement she continues to express her love freely and openly, which is quite unusual in those days.
Like most of Zhang Yimou's films (including Raise the Red Lantern and Not one less), the story is a simple one, whereby the story is told less through the dialogue than by the action of the characters and facial expressions. The soundtrack accompanies the film beautifully, telling of hope and determined love.

Verdict: A touching story of determined love and loyalty. Beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted. Sit back and enjoy.

4 out of 5

Director Filmography:

Wendy Wong

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