Ye Ying - Le promeneur d'oiseau (2013) Reviews

• Incredibly sweet blend of fast and slow China

  anji22014-05-19

  I saw this film at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and I really enjoyed the story as well as the views of rural and village China. I travel in China myself by long distance bus and (not speed) train, the portrayal seemed very genuine and sincere as well as the scenes of village life. The shots of the environment were breathtaking and the exploration of the value of being "unplugged" and connected to family and roots was just beautiful. I did find it interesting that they translated "QQ" to "Skype"... I understand why but... I suppose there wasn't a better option. Anyway, I would highly recommend this film for anyone who is a lover of travel within China or is interested modern Chinese culture and scenery. The vocabulary is great for those learning Mandarin, too.

• a beautiful and moving film, with a lot of heart and charm, and broad appeal

  gregking42014-08-22

  This French Chinese co-production is a beautiful and moving film, with a lot of heart and charm, and it has broad appeal. When her workaholic parents have to go on trips, young Ren Xing (Xin Yi Yang) is reluctantly left in the care of her estranged grandfather Zhi Gen Zhu (Baotian Li, from Shanghai Triad, etc), a widower who lives in a small apartment in Beijing. Xing's father Chong (Hao Qin) is dubious of the arrangement, as his father temporarily lost Xing in a crowded marketplace four years earlier, and he is worried that something may happen. Zhu desires to return to his small home town in the country for sentimental purposes, and takes Xing along. Xing is a spoiled, precocious, petulant and selfish little brat who is resentful of having to leave behind the creature comforts of her luxurious apartment in Beijing for the rustic countryside. Grandfather carries with him his beloved nightingale in a cage, hence the title. But as the pair become lost overnight in a dense forest they begin to bond. The Nightingale is a pleasant road movie that offers up a subtle criticism of the consumerism of contemporary China and the unintended consequences of its one-child policy, which has produced a generation of spoiled, self-absorbed kids. While at the same time the film subtly explores some universal themes that will resonate strongly with audiences. An air of melancholy permeates the material too. Philippe Muyl directs with sensitivity and compassion, and the film shares a few thematic similarities with his 2002 drama The Butterfly. The film is driven by a superb, wonderfully nuanced performance by veteran Li, while newcomer Yang is also very good. The Nightingale is gorgeous to look at thanks to the superb widescreen lensing of Sun Ming, who captures some breathtaking locations and scenery of rural China.

• Such an underrated movie!

  NoxSeismica2017-11-20

  When I began watching this movie, I thought it was just going to be one of the many movies I've seen but this movie has touched me deeply. It's a beautiful movie and the dichotomy of city/village and urban/rural areas is definitely present. It's a story about getting in touch with your roots and origins, it's a story about our presence in the world and the importance of human interactions with a small critique of technology. It follows the granddaughter of a man who lives in the city and has to spend some days with her grandfather. Together, they go on adventures and the grandfather opens a new world to her, a new world full of possibilities where she feels alive for the first time. It's a beautifully crafted movie and well photographed. Maybe some people will think that it lacks something or that the goal of the movie itself is simplistic but the reason why it doesn't aspire to be much is also the reason why it's so good. I recommend this movie for everyone, especially if you are interested in a heartwarming road movie through rural China because you'll definitely feel uplifted by the beautiful nature and the message it sends. Sometimes a message that we're not aware that it exists in the world around us.