Sunday, October 15;
not so random
alright. other than that really really random note earlier, maybe this post would be able to make more sense.
i watched Little Red Flowers last friday at the Picture House with tim. it was a show that i've wanted to watch ever since it came out and read about it in the movie reviews. It has won quite a few arty farty awards already. It's set in the early China period - maybe 50s or so? About this four-year-old chinese boy, Fang Qiangqiang (Dong Bowen) little rascal rebel, being put in a kindergarten. the kindergarten has games, fun and play to make it a child's place but seemingly from the start, there's a strong sense of conformity and almost military-like vs individuality. every child is rewarded a maximum of five little red flowers at the end of each day as a token for their 'good behaviour', which one would realise would seem more like regiment instead. nevertheless, the child's soul never breaks and is determined, strong to pick up from every fall, failure or disgrace. many parts are heart-warming, others can be hurting to see Qiangqiang go through torment given to a child at a young age.
i have to warn you, this might be a spoiler for those who might still want to catch it at The Cathay.
the show cant be said to be top-notched and the cinematography isnt filmed to awe, but it's made basically to show. sure some parts could be considered as jump cuts, there isnt much of a plot or a storyline to follow, some parts would be almost no-linked. and i have to say the abrupt ending is not favourable, in my opinion. overall it's storytelling is abit 'off' and probably incoherent too, but basically it's solely centred on the boy and his take on trying to be accepted by his playmates. manyatimes it feels like a terrible movie, possibly not a great show to show scenery or strong images, but i feel it's a nice one to watch.
i feel very much that the film parallels it very greatly to society or even leaning towards China's Cultural Revolution period. The morning marches, morning mass bowel movements, systematic hand signals, mass sleeping bunk, etc. even the discontentment when Fang Qiangqiang refutes back and rebels, to even the specific hand raised to indicate more soup or rice in their bowls and routine butt-washing of the kids every night with a blow of a whistle. bits of communism can be seen very strongly in the scenes. even if it isnt solely centred on china, it does reflect almost greatly to the adult society. how man tries to fit into the regulations and conformity of society. how he is ostracised if he's seen as different or difficult. being subjected to peer pressure, isolation and humiliation i.e. when Qiangqiang was forced to undress himself in front of the laughing kids cos he didnt know how to. how others try to win favour of the power superiors, trying to gain their acceptance. or in any case, acceptance from anyone. i think the director (Zhang Yuan) had a big idea to show and a strong intention, but maybe it could have been improved. though you would have to give credit to his effort, especially while handling all the kids on set together with the kindergarten teachers and parents. the kids were captured at their best, unrestrained and naturally, as they were. it's a show that well, may be palatable to some but distastful to others. i think it's a rather deep one, not a great one though. but still worth a watch if you willing to.
as one review said "Qiang's spirit is never broken, though, and Zhang shows us that even the smallest among us can have the tenacity and courage to fight for the freedom to be ourselves."
anyway Dong's huge eyes and trouble-natured cheeky character's one to love and hard to get angry with. if there's nothing, it's a cute show to watch, not just for the kids, but the nature that kids are.
have a good week ahead.Labels: pictures, reviews
coatedwithcaramel; [18:38]
