Saturday, January 01, 2005

Together 和你在一起

Watched a movie today at home... a vcd...
"Together", a film by Chen Kaige 陈凯歌... eyes swelling (tears).
A film based in china about family, kin-ship... and passion for music - violin.

It was about how a little boy, Xiao Chun, struggled to develop his talent in the violin. He won several competitions ever since young in his village... and the county. His dad was a cook who was down to earth and the typical country bumpkin. He would not accept gifts and money that people push to him in appreciation of his son's contribution or playing. Later Xiao Chun received an invitation to play in the national violin competition.

He came in 5th, due not to the lack of talent (as the judges actually find him the best in the field) but due to him having no connections in the city of Beijing (unlike some other contestants). Xiao Chun moves on and finds a teacher... a teacher who taught Xiao Chun how to feel the music. Play an instrument without the instrument. And Xiao Chun interestingly learnt about friendship in his encounter with a lady (whom he later calls "jie"). Xiao chun tries to discover his talent as he comes to grips with his adolescence... and interest in the opposite sex... and his rebellious streak that eventually evolved.

Xiao Chun's dad worked really hard just to pay for the school fees and the father and son moved from living in bath houses to lowly quarters...

Later on Xiao Chun's dad decided to change violin teacher for him. Xiao Chun's first teacher could only teach him violin skills... but cannot bring success to him... In the realistic world today, success does not mean just skills, it is about power, connections and money.

Xiao Chun's dad, after much struggle, and with the help of the "jie" of xiao chun, managed to get the new professor to teach xiao chun... who later developed into a prim and proper young man. *Xiao Chun is only 13 when he first stepped into Beijing, from the villages*

As the new professor taught Xiao Chun and groomed him for success, Xiao chun learnt about kinship. Something he had felt but yet not expressed. *I could relate to him... really... it was something there in me too*

The story behind this kinship...
Xiao Chun's "dad" was actually someone who picked him up at the train station. His actual mum and dad had abandoned him and left him there, only with a violin. All the while, the "dad" had never revealed this secret to Xiao Chun... he raised him up single-handedly... knitting for him... caring for him... ensuring he can develop his talent in the violin. Xiao Chun's second teacher in Beijing revealed this secret to him and this welled up emotions. The devotion a "dad" had given to him has made something foster become "blood-tied". The violin that Xiao Chun was left with had a great significance. He pawned the violin to buy a precious present that his "jie" loved dearly... this brought a big saga that eventually was resolved. Despite raising enough money to redeem the violin, Xiao Chun's "dad" and "jie" never could recover it as the violin was already bought by someone. It eventually turned out the xiao chun's 2nd teacher had bought it to prevent xiao chun from giving up on success... the teacher wanted him to practise the violin till he can achieve critical acclaim... develop emotions for the music itself, not just for the violin.

Little did the teacher realise... the passion of playing in the little boy... was always within him and in his love for music, his love for the violin (That his dad had always said as being left behind by his "mum")... and his love for his "dad"... Emotions that are so sincere and true.

Love for parents... a love within the family... something in everyone of us that we might have overlooked sometimes... something in us that will always be the passion and driving force that can keep us going... Ups & Downs, the family would be there. Sacrifices the family has made for the child... the child can least imagine. Treasure the family... treasure your family... and mine.


dk scribbled
4:38 PM
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