Movie

[Anonymous]

I really was intrigued by the film. I think that it was one of those subjects that transends all cultures. I found the quirkiness quite appealing with his fixation on John Lennon and the scenes where the father is trying to buy him a beatles album was priceless.

[Anonymous]

Actually, this film has been haunting me since I saw it Saturday. I think if it were fictional, or at least not incorporating the real-life participants as actors, it would have much less of an impact. I keep thinking of Jia Hongshen's struggle with substance abuse and depression, and even moreso his parents' struggles with co-dependency and their Confucian values. It makes me wonder to what degree substance abuse is a problem in China, and I also wonder what their mental health support services are like.
edited by rfontana on 4/18/2012
edited by rfontana on 4/18/2012

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

It was very interesting that the family actually played themselves in the movie and to learn that Jiu recently committed suicide. That must have been very difficult to relive. I didn't understand why Jiu Hongshen thought of his parents as peasants when they were actors (and the dad indicated that he was a peasant because his father was one). I would think that being an actor would be considered higher in the social class system. Also, I felt so bad for the dad and how he was treated by Jiu. I couldn't believe that the dad stated that he retired and was there to now "serve" his kids. How could Jiu become so hateful and selfish with such loving and giving parents? It must be more than heroine leading him down this path!

[Anonymous]

I had mixed feelings about the movie. I found parts depressing, humorous, and interesting. Jiu's lifestyle really bothered me, his substance abuse, his treatment of his parents, his wastefulness of time (he must have had enough money to live on), his selfishness. It was funny when his dad did not understand the English word for Beatles, and ever so sweet that he tried to pick out and buy Jiu some music. I found it funny that Jiu thought he looked like John Lennon's son and asked his parents if he were related to John Lennon. I found the setting interesting, such as the apartment and where Jiu and his dad walked each day and sat. It looked like the side of a freeway. How very sad that Jiu chose to end his life after going through rehab. It seemed like he had gotten his life together, or maybe I was just being hopeful.

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