Some of the rifts that are created between parents and children are nothing more than misunderstandings or a perceived blame is placed on one or the other, and then over time these issues become hatred. The situation that is in this movie shows how, without talking to each other, this hatred can destroy your inner spirit and leave you a shell of a person. The journey that is traveled in this film, not only has the emotional baggage of an isolated relationship of father and son, shows that with the right help any problem can solved, whether the issues are real or imagined.
After years of estrangement, a Japanese father finds out that his son is dying and as a show of love, he embarks on a trip to China to fulfill his dream of seeing a special folk opera. The filming of the contrast of the two countries is extensive, you see the difference between Japan and China isn't just land size and language it goes well beyond into mind set and belief of the two cultures involved in this drama. As the characters travel through the country the scenery that is shot, is at times, breathtaking and you start to realize how large and expansive China truly is, instead of a shape on a map. The emotions that the main character Gouichi Takada(Ken Takakura), the father, display are so genuine that at times it brings you to tears to see the hardships and roadblocks that he goes through just to accomplish one task.
This film is a very touching and moving piece of human drama; I can only imagine that there are some fathers out there that would go through the trials and personal examination that this character does. To see the difficulties that this man goes through is heartbreaking at times and you begin to wonder if you yourself would be able to do the same if the situations presented themselves. This is a highly emotional film directed by Yimou Zhang, and if you can sit through all of the subtitles, it is well worth the time to see.
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