The film explores the modern day challenges of women in China and especially being a single mother. On a deeper level, it explores the ability for women to courageously live the life they wish to live. The expectations placed upon them and the relationships between mothers and daughters, and between women and 'womanhood'. Extrapolate this out though it's also about people in general living within the confines of social expectations set for them instead of chasing after the things that bring them joy - and the real costs of that.
Every so often a movie leaves me with thoughts and feelings beyond the plot that makes me want to watch it again. This is one of them.
The movie feels like a kindhearted friend telling you stories about ups and downs realities of a life well lived. I found myself laughing and crying with the characters and entranced by the connections, chemistries that they shared.
Unclear to me though if watching as a non-mandarin speaker will be able to understand the nuances of what's said.
If I have one complaint about the film it would be that it tried to tackle too many themes. Because of that points it felt like some of the commentary was a bit shallow. Nonetheless, it still got me thinking and apparently now writing about it.
