Review: Han ni zai yiki (2002)
Laura Clifford
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Young violin prodigy Liu Xiaochun's (Yun Tang) simple country father Liu Cheng
(Peiqi Liu, "Shadow Magic") takes him to Beijing to audition for a prestigious
school. Cheng overhears Professor Jiang (Zhiwen Wang, "The Emperor and the
Assassin") declare Xiaochun the best, even though they placed the child fifth
because there was no money behind him. Determined that his child succeed, Cheng
pesters Jiang into taking Chun on as his student, but when he observes a slicker
Professor, Yu Shifeng (director Kaige Chen), getting Jiang's reject into the
concert circuit, he changes strategy. Chun is surprised to realize that the
fast-track may jeopardize the thing he didn't realize he wanted the most - that
he and his father remain "Together."
Cowriter (with Xiao Lu Xue)/director/star Chen Kaige ("The Emperor and the
Assassin," "Killing Me Softly") creates an allegory for the old, traditional and
new, modern Chinas while assuaging his guilt for having been forced to denounce
his own father during the Cultural Revolution (a period he also addressed in
"Farewell My Concubine"). While "Together's" themes of artistic purity versus
commercial success are handled simplistically and perhaps unrealistically, there
is no denying the emotional engagement of the film.
'Chun,' as Cheng calls him, plays beautifully for Jiang, who shuffles about his
tatty, cat filled apartment doling out commands but offering little in the way
of instruction. His rumpled demeanor represents an affectionate father figure
and safe haven although Chun is smart enough to also recognize a lack of courage
in his hermetic lifestyle. Chun's playing is overheard by Lili (Hong Chen, the
director's wife), a call girl who lives above Jiang's courtyard whom Chun had
already observed clinging to favored client Hui (Qiang Chen, "Devils on the
Doorstep") at a city hotel. Chun plays for Lili, earns a nice tip for doing so
and becomes friendly with the sophisticated young women who is naive in matters
of the heart. Lili becomes as instrumental in Chun's schooling as Jiang once
she's scaled the hurdle of Cheng's disapproval.
Cheng, a revered cook in the provinces, is reduced to peddling fast food and
working construction jobs in the big city to pay his and Chun's way. He
blusters his way into Yu's luxurious apartment and wins over Yu's wife (Hye-ri
Kim) with a heartbreaking tale. It's secret will be wielded by Yu at a climatic
moment with Chun, whom he agrees to take on as a pupil, pitting him against his
own daughter Lin (Qing Zhang) for a prized slot in an international
competition.
Chen coaxes a nice performance from non-actor Yun Tang who he discovered at a
violin competition, while limiting his own to an appropriately cold restraint.
Peiqi Liu gives the film its heart, however, in a performance that recalls
Chaplin's Little Tramp. Peiqi is all bumpkin gumption, an almost slapstick
character in a baseball cap. Both he and Yun are nicely supported by Hong in a
characterization that represents both Chinas - she's hard-edged angling from
money from wealthy men, but all she really wants is love. Zhiwen Wang is funny,
warm and affecting as the old world professor who favors true musicianship over
fame and fortune. Also noteworthy is Qing Zhang who simmers with resentment at
Chun's favor with her father until defeat gives her the inner revelation to
succeed.
Cinematography by Jiongqiu Jin and Hyung-ku Kim shines most in a sequence of
close-up activity in Jiang's apartment that creates a mood of glowing nostalgia.
Music is, of course, wonderful and features Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto."
"Together's" operatic climax is a bit too fuzzily sentimental to be believed but
Kaige crosscuts effectively with the satisfying triumph of a supporting
character.
B
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Robin Clifford
A not-too-bright but loving father, Liu Cheng (Peiqi Liu), works as a cook in a
local restaurant while raising his violin prodigy son in northern China. He
realizes the incredible talent of the boy, Xiaochun (Yun Tang), and makes plans
to move to Beijing so the 13-year old genius can get into the state's
prestigious music academy in director Chen Kaige's "Together."
This is a story that you have seen before in such films as "Little Man Tate
(1991)" where the average/simple/working-class/poor/you-name-it parent must cope
with his/her child's brilliance while trying to maintain some semblance of
authority and control over the youngster. Said parent must deal with the
exasperated impatience of a genius youngster while try to do the right thing by
the child.
In "Together," Cheng obviously adores Xiaochun and is ready and willing to pack
all of their meager belongings and every cent they have (hidden in Cheng's cap)
and head to Beijing. Cheng's initial plan is to enroll the boy in the Beijing
academy and get him to the point of fame and prosperity. They attend auditions
for the state-run music school and Xiaochun gives an impressive performance but
politics and payola keep the boy out. Cheng overhears a conversation between two
men, one a music teacher, praising his son, and he seeks out the teacher,
Professor Jiang (Zhiwen Wang), and hires him to tutor Xiaochun.
The slovenly Jiang has the boy play at length but also uses him as a servant,
causing an angered Cheng to fire the instructor. Meanwhile, adolescent Xiaochun
is heading straight for puberty and he notices his sexy neighbor, Lili (Hong
Chen). She hears him practicing his violin and orders the youngster to come over
to play for her, tipping him well for his effort. A friendship, of sorts,
develops between the two as Lili lives a fast paced life, running with a married
man, while Xiaochun quietly adores the beautiful older woman.
Cheng, a true innocent and desperate to find a replacement teacher for his son,
breaches societal protocol and goes to the home of a famed music teacher, Yu
Shifeng (Chen Kaige), and asks him to teach his son. Reluctantly, but intrigued
by the boy's obvious talent, Yu auditions the boy and invites him to come live
with the Yu family while in training - to the detriment of Yu's own talented
daughter and student, Lin (Qing Zhang). All of these varied story lines come
together, in the end, in a moving (if predictable) way as the son comes to
realize the importance of his father's love and dedication. This father/son tale
may be a cliché but it is beautifully rendered one by helmer Chen Kaige, with
brilliant music, fine acting, good techs and a terrifically sympathetic
performance by Peiqi Lui as Cheng. I had tears in my eyes by the end of
"Together" because of his moving performance, especially when the whole story is
tied together in the finale.
Real-life prodigy Yun Tang plays Xiaochun and, while he is obviously not an
actor, his musical abilities are used effectively and lend the film an
additional level of realism. Hong Chen as Lili is sexy, pretty and smart, but
she lives for the moment, sometimes to not such good results, at least for her.
Xiaochun idolizes Lili but she doesn't realize the effect she has on the
pubescent boy's libido. He willingly sacrifices his own future, on a whim, just
to give Lili what she wants. Zhiwen Wang as Professor Jiang is a quirky, offbeat
character that is also influenced by his association with Cheng and Xiaochun and
eventually changes his sloppy ways, though his storyline is abruptly dropped in
an unsatisfying way. The helmer does double duty, and well, as the sophisticated
and demanding Yu.
Techs are superb with camera work, by Jiongqiu Jin and Hyung-ku Kim, costumes by
Yeong-su Ha, and production design by Juiping Cao and Luyi Liu - ranging from
Cheng's humble but clean rooms to Lili's modern pad to Wu's luxurious abode to
the streets of Beijing - all expertly done. Chen Kaige shows his expert
leadership as he crafts an oft-told story and gives it freshness, combining East
and West in what is a truly universal tale of love between a parent and child.
The original music by Ling Zhao is beautifully supplemented with such classical
works a Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto" and Vivaldi's "The Four Season." The
performances of these works, especially by Yun Tang, are an epiphany. Some may
find "Together" to be melodramatic treacle but, particularly because of Peiqi
Liu's touching performance, that's not such a bad thing. I give it a B+.
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