Product Description: Takada, a Japanese fisherman, has been estranged from his son for many years, but when the son is diagnosed with terminal cancer his daughter-in-law, Rie, summons him to the hospital. When his son refuses to see him, Rie gives him a videotape about the work his son was doing on a documentary film in a remote region of China’s Yunnan province. Still troubled by the relationship, Takada decided to complete his son’s work in part to develop an understanding of his son, and in part to do something for him. Once in China, a series of obstacles and relationships bring him unexpectedly closer to both an understanding of himself and of his son.
Amazon.com: Zhang Yimou's heartfelt feature about cultural displacement, grief, and reconciliation is a lovely and somewhat unexpected work from the director of Raise the Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers. Japanese actor Ken Takakura stars as Gou-ichi Takata, a laconic man who lives in a fishing village and is estranged from his son. When word reaches him that his son is ill with cancer, Takata travels to Tokyo but is turned away. Takata learns that his son has a passion for rural Chinese folk opera, and he flies to mainland China to locate Li Jiamin (playing himself), an opera star who happens to be in jail at the moment. Takata's story reminds Li of his own sad disconnection from his young son, and Takata sets out to restore their relationship as a prelude to helping his own with Li's help. Zhang himself is unusually operatic here, with intense emotions flying around, prettified visions of nature, and characters--including prison guards and peasants--who seem idealized, both as folklore and even old, Maoist notions of cooperation. Zhang's longtime admirers will appreciate and understand this change of pace from a filmmaker whose relationship with Chinese officials has often been strained over content. But film fans less familiar with his body of work will enjoy Riding Alone as well. --Tom Keogh
Stills from Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles
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Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Takakura Ken does a marvelous job as the father trying to do one last good act to regain his son's respect. His struggle with Chinese propriety and the sad issue surrounding his goal, a Chinese opera performer say much for this story. The one detraction, and a major one for me, is the child. I never felt the attachment that the film tries to evoke between Ken and him. Another film that could use some commentary.
Love as redemption's device!! This is a touching and heartfelt filial story between a after and his son, who have not seen each one another a long time ago. In between, the father is infirmed about his son has terminal cancer. When his father goes to visit him to the hospital, his son rejects him. But the father is aware his son left a project unfinished and trying to complete it, both will get close despite the distance.
Extraordinary and beautifully filmed. One of the supreme jewels of this Chinese filmmaker who has accustomed to give us priceless treasures of cinema.
Fantastic film This film is a favorite of mine. A wonderful, original story, fantastic setting, wonderful acting, great dialog and narration of the main character's struggles. The cinematography of this film is extraordinary. Visually stunning work. See this film.
Simple Story and YET COMPLEX It is hard not to be moved by this beautifully shot film. A simple story where a man sets out to mend his less than ideal relationship with his own son. In order to complete his "mission" he is dependent on the kindness, cooperation and help of others. As he sets out to complete his son's work, he becomes transformed and winds up helping others as well as himself. Furthermore, many main players in the film wind up helping others in part due to their own discrepancies.
A simple story that is extremely multi-layered with various story lines occuring all at once, yet each one never overly emphasized. Each layer of plot is brilliantly introduced within the main plot line of man trying to reconnect with his son through his son's passion for Chinese folk opera.
In the background of all this, the film is beautifully shot. Emotions run high and low. It is next to impossible to watch this film and not be impacted at one point or another. There is ALOT going on in this film and well worth several views. A beautiful, beautiful film.
Watching Alone for Hundreds of Minutes Based on the director's earlier work, I was looking forward to Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles. And while I did enjoy it, I was also mildly disappointed. This film is visually very appealing, but I its central relationship between the father and the son was less than involving.
Further, the characters seem to be playing "types" more than real people, so I suppose I could say that as a travelogue, this is first-rate, but as an engaging drama, it's less than successful.
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