"The monk has no sons, but so many are filial to him."

An art form, surviving only with a lone old vagrant who refuses to
teach it to anyone outside of a male of his family, is in danger of
going extinct as the heirless minstrel is caught up in the
vicissitudes of life.

Perhaps somewhat ironically, the emotional brilliance of the
film---owing mostly to the brilliant acting---leaves the film feeling
somewhat technically subpar: perhaps the frames could be much more of
a painting, perhaps the scenes might have looked much better with
Kurosawa-esque blocking, perhaps the camera could use more Ozu-like
audacity to linger, ...

At any rate, this is a film worth watching. Packs quite the emotional
punch: on par with Chaplin's 'The Kid' (1921).

A Chinese opera of a movie.

[21 December 2024]