Movie Digest
Wang Xinyang’s life has changed forever. After being diagnosed with leukemia he now has only a 50 percent chance to be alive. At such a young stage having a disease that is tearing his life apart, we get to see young Xinyang still keep up an optimistic face for the future. This movie is all about battling a deadly disease while remaining optimistic about the outcome and making meaningful relationships with others around.
The Feel-Good Part
14-year-old Wang Xinyang dreamed of being a musician. He was over the moon when his classmate agreed to sell him a guitar. HE decided to play the guitar in the school’s forthcoming auditions for the cultural and arts festival. Things go downhill after he faints and when a check-up is done his reports show he has leukemia. With the disease taking a toll on his health, Xinyang decided to skip the festival and spends most of his time with his parents in the hospital ward. The film does not bore anyone with the soggy and sad details. It never cries about the woes, the writers did a good job of showing an aspect of having a deadly disease, and how it affects our perspective on everything. Xinyang’s father knows he inclines toward music, so he decides to get his son a guitar. We see how the finances were being tough to budget due to the bills and how as a family Xinyang’s parents were trying their best to keep everything and everyone afloat. The film does not give a sappy story, it shows how a disease affects life in the same manner as everything else. We see Xinyang strike up conversations online and get to know a friend who is also fighting leukemia, but that person only has a 20 percent chance to survive. How this knowledge shapes his worldview is also heartwarming to watch on the screen.
The Disappointing Factor
Some people might find that this film is a little too tight on the harness for feelings. But maybe that was the writer’s intention. Most of the films in this genre is a tearjerkers, not saying let life be beautiful is not. This movie makes you shed tears, it’s not far from some sentimentality. It knows how to work the emotions of the audience without making it seem like a sappy and sad story. We get to know the part of healing from leukemia like the financial troubles. The family has to give up their house and car to cover the bills, Xinyang gets to be in a small band formed by his classmates called ‘Too young to die. This movie does not have any disappointing factors as such. The pacing and visuals, and acting were very seamless and smooth.
In-Depth Analysis
It’s nice to see a movie where they get teenage sentiments right. Xinyang displays an aversion to studies and is more interested in music. We see him strike up a conversation with his inline friend, which is so reflective of many adolescents in the age of social media. This film has woven beautifully the entire aspects of battling a life-threatening disease, from how it affects the parents, to the friends, to professional commitments. The actor’s cast was also very good, each one fit the role perfectly. Little things like giving Xinyang woolly hats after his chemotherapy and loss of hair as a result were extremely reflective of what friends really should be. The movie rarely misses on any front and seems to pack it all seamlessly.
Star Power
Liu Min Tao and Rong Zi Shan were the two main leads in this movie. Both actors were exemplary in their role. Rong Zi Shan’ skills were on par with the adult actors on the set.
Overall Opinion
This film shies away from being too sentimental but not entirely. Give this film a watch on your weekends, or any other leisure time. This film is crafted beautifully engaging points and instances from a real life instance. It does not shy away from ashowing the part of reality most sappy and sad films avoid. IT wraps sentimentality in the plot where something mortal like finance is also given a perspective to focus on. Family time and friendships are focused on. What each and everything means for a 14 year old who only had 50 percent chance of being alive is showed very beautifully.
