The literal translation of the title of this movie is: the Old Man.
In the traditional Confucian teachings, the society is ruled by seniors. Age means seniority and experience, and in turn, these mean respect and status. However, this is not the case in the modern society and by describing the experience of seniors in China, the movie helped to hint the public that although the old ways no longer applies today, those people should not be forgotten and ignored. This is the hidden theme behind the movie and it is difficult for non-Chinese to figure out if they are unfamiliar with traditional Confucian teachings.