Life on a String

"Life on a String" (Chinese, 1991): Asian symbols often slip right past this very non-Asian man, but I can say a few things that others might be able to use from their Euro-North American point of view: Imagine German film director Werner Herzog being reincarnated as a Chinese film director. He decides to create a story that has links to both the story of Jesus of Nazareth, and Romeo & Juliet, but remains embedded in the Chinese sensibility of myths, symbols, religion, and morality tales. This is a BEAUTIFUL film with many unexpected moments…but don't expect to work your way through this one all alone, without research, or after one viewing.

Few films have effected me as this one, a quiet gem that details the long life of a blind musician searching for purpose. He is considered a saint by the local villagers, often wisely singing on the pettiness of their quarrels, and the beauty of life and brotherhood...

As in Bergmans' 'Wild Strawberries', the protagonist is at a point in his life where death is around the corner. His one wish is to regain his sight, his hope had been sown by his own dying master. When a set amount of strings are plucked a secret compartment in his instrument will open, the cure inside.

The film is beatifully photographed, the acting heartfelt and believable, and the music,the music...

Well, the first time I saw this film, it wasn't from the beginning, in fact, I caught the last 10 minutes of it. The old man,singing to a crowd , finally excepting his fate. He muses the love that he felt for the villagers, and the disappointments and joys that came with his life. It was one of the most beautiful segments I had seen in film. I was actually brought to tears...

Overall an excellent film, and I'm looking foward to seeing this director's other work.

10 out of 10

This movie must be seen in the theaters to be appreciated. The scenery is breathtaking. Every frame is like a painting that you can hang on the wall. The songs are memorable. It is a type of film that makes you appreciate life and all its beauty. It also shows how blind people can see and appreciate things much more than those who can see.

watching this film, i was left with too many unanswered questions at the end of it. the first thing i had to say was "...okkkk". in the end i felt a little unsatisfied. the relationship between lanxiu and shidou could have been developed a little more.

maybe i was approaching the film in the wrong manner. coming from the "old well" and "yellow river" perspective, this doesn't seem to hold up as well as some of the other 5th generation director's films.

The literal translation is "Singing while Walking". Compared to Yellow Earth (Huang Tu Di) seven years ago, the director has made a obvious giant stride in the criticism of not-so-favorite part of traditional Chinese culture, which is to blame for the human tragedies in this film.