Together
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Movie Reviews of Together
Movie Review: touching 'coming-of-age' story - Beautiful Music
Summary: 5 Stars
Woven into the story of a young violin prodigy from the countryside of China on the path to fame in Beijing, is a wonderful "coming of age story" about learning to follow your heart. The music in this story is beyond compare. I have already ordered the soundtrack and I just watched this movie last night.
The young star is brilliant. The supporting roles were superb. I especially enjoyed the relationships that develop between the young boy and his first music teacher and between his father and the young neighbor.
The mandarin dialogue is excellently translated into idiom-rich English. I also liked the openness of the movies portrayal of the "guanxi" (favoritism) in Chinese society.
American watchers may find one or two conversations a bit slow and circular - but remember you are catching a glimpse into another society - one that is not so fast paced and not always as direct in speech as our own. All in all, this movie has a fast pace a plot that keeps you guessing what will happen next. The teenage star throws in a twist of his own (as teenagers often do).
Unless the sound of beautiful, emotional orchestral music with powerful ever intensifying violin solos makes you want to put cotton in your ears and leave the building, I can't think of anyone who would not like this movie.
Movie Review: One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
This was without a doubt one of the most visually and emotionally beautiful films I've ever seen. The storyline, themes and characters were relevant in any culture. The imagery and filming techniques were superb. The music was well chosen not only to match the emotional tone of each scene, but also to serve as additional metaphors for the main themes of the film (for example, "Consolation" by Liszt.) In fact, the quality of the musical performances would be reason enough to see this film even without the intriguing and moving plot.
I was impressed with the very real and not over-done acting abilities of the major players, which fortunately came through even when watching the film in another language with subtitles, and was critical to carry off this heart-tugging story without seeming sappy.
Best of all, the movie made me cry and laugh and cry some more, and I literally sat on the edge of my seat during the highly emotional and cleverly-filmed climax. I left the theater feeling drained and yet refreshed, and it made me appreciate even more the wonderful opportunities that I've had growing up in this country, and the sacrifices that parents in any land make for their children. I have purchased the film as one I know will give me a lift anytime I watch it.
Movie Review: Powerful Reality! A Masterpiece of Chinese Films in a decade
Summary: 5 Stars
Remarkable depiction of the strong bond between father and son. As an acclaimed Director, Kaige Chen presents us with a drama not only touching but close to sober reality. Leaving their countryside hometown, a 13-year old boy Xiaochun came out to a crowded Beijing station with his father Liu Cheng, to entree a contest with high hope that it might lead to find a way to make his son a professional violinist. But the father soon sees nonsense and the harsh reality. Yet, regardless of their financially hard situation and not minding his rustic outfit, the father strives for finding a teacher to give his son a chance. With arduous persuasion, after the boy was finally accepted as a student by the Professor who is rather down on his luck, his father scurries about to get a job and take care of things to keep the lessons now his son has.
Watching the father Liu Cheng (played by Peiqi Liu) trying the best for his son Xiaochun (played by Yun Tang) is painfully heartwarming. Liu Peiqi's performance as an overwhelmingly caring father who does everything he can for his son, is a great achievement and an asset to this film. Emotional scenes played by Yun and the arias will touch your heart many times.
Movie Review: It truly touched my heart!
Summary: 5 Stars
The best character portrayed in this movie, in my opinion, is the father. His manners may not be refined or polished, yet his love for his son Xiaochun is so utterly unconditional & unselfish. With minimal education and music training, he however does know a good violinist when he hears one (watch the scene where he wholeheartedly cheers for the already established & famous young violinist's performance after he sneaks in the concert), and that's why he seeks out Prof. Yu for his son. Yeah, he could be manipulative at times, but he is simply behaving like any other ordinary parent who wants the best for his child. The scene in which the father went to the music shop looking for the old violin just breaks my heart! Anyone who has played the violin long enough knows how attached violinists are to their instruments. It's like the extension to the player's heart; losing it is no less serious than losing part of your soul & memory.
I always regard the violin sound to be the closest, of all the musical instruments, to the expressions and feelings of the human emotions. At the end, perhaps that's what gives Xiaochun the courage to choose what's really important and closest to his heart.
Movie Review: How fate could prefered!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
A childhood memory resounded my lost youth,music,love,unfairness,passion.......even more purity that I hopefully reserved not quite well in my heart.The story of this talented boy,Xiaochun,was a miracle because of several kindness among the social warmness.He firstly had take home by a farmer,therefore he didn't became an orphan;Then this man treated him with the deepest love not any parents could gave;Later they went to Beijing,met Miss Lili,Mr.Jiang,and Professor Yu,in a brand new big city;Later,Xiaochun got professional training under a strict teacher,in the same time,earned an oppurtunity to stand on the world class stage of the art;Lastly,he made a choice to quit the performing,back to hometown with his father,inspite of his teacher had a little bit pities on this final decission that might never comes twice in a boy's life.I think those people's tolerance stimulatedXiaochun's ardom in both violin playing and courage of life,no matter he decided to have a such challenging path instead of success approach.How fate could prefered,when you didn't want lost either happiness between family and career,this kid truely gave us a satisfied answer.