Together
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Movie Reviews of Together
Movie Review: Ultimately beautiful
Summary: 4 Stars
This was a very good film in many ways. Although it appears to be simple it's quite a complex examination of adolescent confusion, fatherly love and hope - all within a class, status based society that provides the film with a nuanced backdrop. Xiaochen did frustrate me at times, as he's so very often silent, and many of his actions are selfish and heartrending considering what it puts his father through. I wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. But that's really one of the many things that's good about this. At 13 or 14 kids have a host of pressures put on them, a host of confusing things to work through, and they don't have the language or the experience yet to deal with it. Xiaochen is working through all that, but he also has the weight of his talent on his shoulders. So, reasonably enough, he's going to struggle to sort it all out.
The ending of this is frustrating in some ways, but ultimately very beautiful also. This is a quiet film, no bells and whistles - but some satisfying complex characterization and quite wonderful music.
Movie Review: A heartwarming tail, but I docked 1 star surrounding the controversy
Summary: 4 Stars
I screened this movie many long years ago and met the young violinist who is the actual artist in the movie. The violinist who plays all the music is a truly ridiculously talented virtuoso. For anyone who love this movie, I would recommend looking him up on youtube as he is really quite unique, young, fresh, and humorous in his playing.
The movie is a brilliantly written tale that is so very thematic of the best that China is putting out. The struggle and sacrifice are really amazing. The characters can be even more appreciated if one has read a bit about the effects of the cultural revolution on the arts and artistic expression and the impact of the event family life.
My understanding is that some controversy exists surrounding the music used and royalty payments. If it had not been for the controversy, I would have given it 5 stars. However, given the nature of the controversy, I could not give it the final star.
Movie Review: Beautiful Music, Lovely story
Summary: 4 Stars
A boy and his dad move from a small country town to the big city in Beijing. From there they enter a competition to get enrolled into a prestigious music school. The boy gets fifth place but should have gotten first. The father gets him a teacher and from there his career takes flight. Unfortunately, the boys father lacks the means and the influence to get him anywhere. Through hard work and luck the boy gets another teacher who can lead him to fame and fortune. Will he leave his simple life for glory or be just like his father and never move ahead?
Throughout the story the boy struggles with leaving his teacher, making sure this is the career he wants, falling in love, accepting his fate, and dealing with competition.
The music for the movie in beautifully played and makes me want to watch the movie over and over. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of classical music and international films.
Movie Review: Nice People, Nice Music
Summary: 4 Stars
Here is fairly pleasant story of a 13-year-old violin prodigy and his financially-strapped father try to get the boy professional help to aid in the kid's musical career.
The father is a bit on the pushy side but he has a good heart and he's pretty comical, too. The young teen is a likable kid and the other main characters - two of his teachers and the "big sister" - are all interesting people.
The dialog, as with many "foreign" films, is different from what we are used to hearing in North America and I, for one, find it appealing.
At almost two hours, this might be a bit long for most people to put up with subtitles, but I didn't find that a hindrance in keeping focused on this story. Along the way, you get to enjoy some excellent violin playing, too.
People who like amiable-character stories and good music should enjoy this very much.
Movie Review: CHINESE MELODRAMA
Summary: 4 Stars
Very well put together film portraying the choice a young man has to make between personal success and family. I watched many films like this but of poor quality and in black and white, when I lived in Hong Kong 35 years ago. It would not be accurate to describe it as soap opera but it is certainly melodrama. There are many better films than this coming out of modern China. I would recommend King of Masks before this one as a slick tear jerker that has superb acting (including the monkey) throughout. There are outstanding scenes of China and old Chinese village life. The cinematography and technical aspect of the film is superb.