Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Reviewed by Marigold Edwards
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles is the beautifully filmed and poignant story of an old Japanese man's journey into the heart of rural China in a quest to find a renowned folk performer and film his rendition of a traditional Chinese opera of the same title. The title is a metaphor for the old man's life, a solitary existence bereft of family due to an undisclosed past incident that left him alienated from his son – an incident for which he takes responsibility, but for which he is unable to express emotion. As his adult son lies dying in a hospital bed, Takata embarks on his odyssey in an attempt at reconciliation before it is too late.
Its director is Zhang Yimou, a three time Oscar nominee for best foreign language film (Ju Dou, 1989; Raise the Red Lantern, 1991; and Hero, 2002) and recipient of numerous awards on the international film festival circuit. His latest effort was achieved on a budget of a mere 7.2 million USD and the finished product is a credit to cast and crew. The cinematography is exquisite, showcasing China's wild and rugged scenic side, imagery which contrasts with the popular perception of a bustling nation with overcrowded cities. The film is so artfully crafted, that one soon forgets the subtitles and is transported beyond the language and cultural barriers on a wave of emotion.
The audience is compelled to follow the protagonist as he is left to struggle against a succession of seemingly insurmountable obstacles when the attractive Chinese interpreter he had hired to assist him must abandon him into the hands of a tour guide with limited Japanese language skills. We travel with them along a road that is both inspirational and at times humorous. Despite all the roadblocks our hero encounters, he refuses to give up; but as his journey progresses, other objectives arise, which he pursues with mixed success to the detriment of his original mission.
The film weaves two tales of father/son alienation into one and encompasses several themes. It is a film about the importance of expressing one's feelings, a point driven home somewhat humorously when the famed folk-opera singer removes his mask and erupts into a mass of slobbering, sobbing emotion, a mask from behind which, Takata has been unable to emerge. It is also a film about perseverance, forgiveness and second chances - about letting those you love know how much they mean to you. But most of all, it is a film about how sharing love and compassion with those you encounter along life's path ultimately leads toward self healing.
Zhang's other films include House of Flying Daggers (2004) and the recently completed Curse of the Golden Flower (2006).
November 2006 - The Lamp