Roots and Branches

This film is about 4 siblings who got separated during childhood, and the subsequent search for each other nearly 20 years later.

The childhood memories are brilliantly executed. The children are so vivid, lively, innocent and they really bond together like family. For the modern day scenes, I get the impression that the search for the siblings is far too simple. How on earth did David find 2 siblings just out of the blue? I think if there was more portrayal of the process of their search, the film would be more convincing and touching. In addition, I find the characters too emotionally restrained after finally meeting each other. Though this is understandable, as after years of not keeping in touch, it could be a bit awkward, but I would have liked a touching portrayal of the reunions.

Overall, this film is touching and mainly because of the childhood scenes.

When I got the DVD through the post, immediately I noticed the sticker on the box that said, "Award Winning", but then again, the design on the box wasn't the most alluring. Of course, most of us either embrace the "Award Winning" sticker and go off and see the movie immediately, others (like myself) are quite skeptical about what it really means.

Anyway, in my opinion whatever award was given to it, it was well deserved. The story tells of a family with four children, Yuki, Sitian, Miao and Tian who grow up in a small town in China. The children (whom most parents would regard as idyllic or angellic!) bond most lovingly, looking out for each other during their young lives.

However, their world gets shattered as their parents are victims of a blizzard. Yuki, the eldest brother, is given the responsibility of his siblings, but eventually, he is forced to offer himself and his siblings up for adoption, and they are all separated. Twenty years later, Sitian returns to China, having lived in America where she's become a famous conductor. Slowly, she tries to track down her siblings, as they silently rediscover what was lost between them.

Whilst it's a simple idea, the film was brilliantly executed, with some truly awesome acting. The ancient anecdote about children and animals seemed to have been completely quashed here, as the acting performance of the four children were outstanding. And for that one must compliment the director, since to get the right performance from one child is one immense task, but to have done it from all four is outstanding.

The script itself is built on very solid ground. The movie is centred around flashbacks, but the movie flows like a dream and is so easy to follow. What's more compelling is the depiction of daily life in a traditional Chinese town. Whilst most of today's literature in the West about China is focused on individual struggles against the establishment during the Cultural revolution, etc., this story relates more to the struggle against everyday life in China, and gives the truer impression that not all things in China are all political and repressive.

All in all, I finished watching the movie feeling completely satisfied. It is one which can be a tearjerker, and is quite emotional. And there is little overdone or underdone about it. It's simple, and tells a story in a magical and beautiful way. And it's been done without the big budget studio. Definitely one to watch again.

This is the story of four siblings. We see their present day individual lives as young adults in the capitol city of China, and through many long vivid flashbacks, we witness their early childhood living with their loving parents in a small Chinese village some 15 odd years previous.

The flashback segments are a work of art. The child actors are natural together as brother and sister, and the parents glow and radiate love and togetherness. Spoken or unspoken, we see the strong family bonds that exist. To say that the direction and acting are exceptional would be an understatement.

However, what prevents this movie from achieving greatness are the present day scenes.

The acting, the story telling, the execution of the plot are all second rate. Past and present do not seem to fit in the same movie, because the segments from the past are crafted so well, while the present day segments are poorly made.

This movie should have been great. It almost was.