Di yi ci de li bie

The lack of images in this place is as significant as the significance of this film. Boys don't leave their mothers, girls don't leave their hometowns, and lambs don't leave their masters. On one side is a soft and beautiful garden, and on the other is a serious and bitter campus. The strong contrast between the two spaces is there. Even if nothing is said, it means that it naturally emerges. Growth, recognition, modernization... The director is also a dancer dancing on the tip of the knife, both sharp and elegant.

The image of the two sons braiding mom's hair, a very touching image. Beautiful landscape. Emotional song at the end, as the credits roll, even if I do not understand the lyrics.

When I read a brief synopsis of this film for the Jerusalem film festival, I feared it might be a political screed about the besieged Uygher people oppressed by China. Instead it was primarily a lovely human story of two families going through changes to their to their impoverished agricultural lifestyles. Yes, some political implications, with Mainland Mandarin language and pressures dominating their lifestyles, but the focus here is much more on simple eternal issues of illness, growing old, marital discord, its effect on children, big city "progress" vs. simple family values, the "importance" of education (maybe?). The children here are just wonderful. Beautiful, non affected, funny, utterly believable, apparently some non professional actors. The cinematography lush at times, always simple and captivating. Haunting music and some lovely poetry. Listen to the beautiful song the father sings to his wife. These people lead very different lives than most of the westerners who will see the movie, and yet all the conflicts, problems, and joys seem so touching and real. A special gem, methinks.