Movie Digest
The film is about the changing times and national pride in China. It takes place throughout four different periods with families from various social backgrounds and shows their struggles in each era. My Country, My Parents, is a culmination of four different stories that have common themes of familial bonds and hardship.
The Feel-Good Part
All four stories are wildly different from one another, making the film interesting till the very end by providing multiple experiences to the audience packed in one. The commonality between the themes in each movie also makes sure that the focus on the film’s overarching message. The film has some emotionally impactful moments that deliver on the subject matter of understanding China’s history through its humanity and people. The music is well-utilized and aids the delivery of the emotional and comedic elements in the last two stories.
The Disappointing Factor
The first film, made like an epic, doesn’t work for the film’s tone and might cause whiplash for some watching the movie. The film’s message is almost forced upon the audience and spelled out to the degree that it may get annoying for viewers to sit through this repetition. Women are side-lined in the story there is very little attention paid to the female characters, and hence the movie may come across as sexist. The film is highly predictable, which often overshadows the moments that try to deliver genuine emotion. The film made by four different directors, which may cause the movie to be uneven in parts and often lack consistency, which is why the absence of coherence is present throughout the film.
In-Depth Analysis
The production design of the film is accurate, which provides an immersive experience for the audience. The movie is hefty on propaganda, which is often jarring and difficult to watch as the movie won’t let you forget the propagandist elements by reiterating them every step of the way. The movie tries to highlight the sacrifices of the population at different stages of the country’s development. Still, it does not do it justice as it is more focused on China as a country rather than its people. Zhang Ziyi’s feature shines the brightest among the four films because of its stylish and moody approach, which gives it a distinct flavor.
Star Power
The performances in each film are different due to the nature of the stories and hence, the distinctions between them. The actors have done their bit and delivered adequately, some scenes may come off as over-the-top, but that still matches the nature of the story and hence doesn’t pose too much of a problem.
Overall Opinion
My Country, My Parents, falters as a piece of entertainment in many different aspects related to the storytelling and techniques used to craft the film. Despite its flaws, it still makes for an interesting watch as it displays different styles and gives a variety of viewing experiences. For those who have the time to spare, the movie might keep them engaged; however, you won’t miss much if you skip watching this flick.
