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Review #264 of 365
Film: Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2006) [PG] 107 minutes
Mandarin Chinese Title: Qian li zou dan qi
WIP™ Scale: 13.50
Where Viewed: Landmark Chez Artiste, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 2 October 2006
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Directed by: Yimou Zhang (House of Flying Daggers)
Written by: Yimou Zhang & Jingzhi Zou
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Ken Takakura (Mr. Baseball) • Shinobu Terajima (Tokyo Tower) • Jiamin Li (debut) • Lin Qiu (debut) • Jiang Wen (debut) • Zhenbo Yang (debut)
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Yimou Zhang, Chinese-born director of Jet Li's Hero and House of Flying Daggers, delivers a deeply moving and introspective drama as his next feature film. The only sword play, in fact, is never shown, only referred to. The story features the elder Japanese father of Ken-ichi Takata named Gou-ichi Takata portrayed to classic, stoic Japanese perfection by Ken Takakura. When Mr. Takata learns from his daughter-in-law, Rie (Shinobu Terajima) that his long-estranged son is very ill and in the hospital, he travels via high speed train from the remote fishing village where he has taken refuge upon the death of his wife. Unfortunately, the grudge between the two men is two deeply rooted, and Ken-ichi refuses to see his father despite his long journey. Rie slips him a video tape of a folk opera television segment Ken-ichi filmed in the most southwestern region of China known as the Yunnan province bordering the nations of Vietnam, Laos, and Burma to the west as well as the Tibet Autonomous Region to the northwest. This region is home to more than 42 million people with a land size of 152,084 square miles (roughly the size of North and South Dakota combined). This region is famous for an area outside the capital city of Kunming known as the Stone Forest (see above) filled with spectacular natural stone formations. Mr. Takata watches the video segment which represents the first time he's seen the work of his son, and during the segment, Ken-ichi makes a promise to a local Chinese folk opera singer names Li Jiamin (Jiamin Li) that he will return the next year to film his performance in one of China's most famous and beautiful folk operas, Qian li zou dan qi or "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles". The story of which concerns the travels of Lord Guan—a man that lived in the period of 220-280 AD Lord Guan known for his huge frame, long beard, a dark red-brown face and red lips—who has come to symbolize loyalty in Chinese culture for his deep friendships including a tale that he rode alone for 1000 miles to reach a friend in need. Also, hence, the title of the film. Shortly after watching the video back in his home in the fishing village, Mr. Takata receives a short phone call from Rie indicating that Ken-ichi has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the liver with a very short time to live. Realizing that his son will never be able to make good on his promise to Li Jiamin, Mr. Takata develops a plan to return to Yunnan and film the show himself to return with the footage to show his son and, hopefully, revive their relationship before he dies. The travel agent arranges everything including a Japanese-speaking Chinese guide named, in English, Jasmine (Jiang wen).
The Three Pagodas of Dali at Foot of the Cangshan Mountains, Dali, Yunnan, China Buy From Art.com
When he finally gets to Kunming, unfortunately, he finds that he cannot film the folk opera with Li Jiamin in the leading role because Li Jiamin has been thrown in prison for attacking a person in the face with a sword for calling his son a bastard. Refusing to give up, Mr. Takata begins a long journey to prove his love for his son. First he tries to get permission to film in the prison, but the local Director of Foreign Affairs refuses figuring it will be just too complicated. So, Mr. Takata makes a video request to the Director and his cronies begging them to help him make film this video for his dying son. They finally agree. Having been reassigned to another client, Jasmine has turned Mr. Takata over to another guide named Lingo (Lin Qiu) who lacks her facility with Japanese but overcompensates with a zealous loyalty to Mr. Takata and the completion of his mission. Finally, the minister agrees and attempts to get the Director of the Prison on board with the plan. Again, Takata faces a new challenge when he finally gets into the prison to film, gets the blessing of the warden, and gets Li Jiamin ready to perform. Li Jiamin breaks down into tears over his lost son, Yang Yang (Zhenbo Yang) and refuses to sing. Nearly out of options and running out of time, Mr. Takata makes the rash decision as his problems in completing this task escalate every minute, to travel to the Stone Village, collect Yang Yang, and take him to see his father so that his father will be able to see the son he's never seen, perform the opera for filming, and return home. And thus, Lingo, Takata and their driver strike out on their own toward Stone City. After a long and convoluted meeting with the village elders, Mr. Takata learns that he will be permitted to take Yang Yang to see his father and that the villagers have prepared a banquet in his honor. Over the course of the next day, and events that won't be spoiled her, Takata learns the true value of a father-son relationship. He develops a new and more complete understanding of his son and why his son loved to escape the pressures of life to sit and stare at the beautiful mountains of the region. The story has a deeply sad ending that is to fill Takata father and son with deep regrets. Still, the story would have been far worse had it not been for the meddlesome daughter-in-law who hoped one day to share a family meal with her husband and father-in-law. Her efforts to bring them together succeeded in intention if not in practice.
"Lacking the flying dagger fun of Yimou Zhang's previous few films, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles is a powerfully moving drama that touches the heart with great characters and vibrant performances."
Lacking the flying dagger fun of Yimou Zhang's previous few films, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles is a powerfully moving drama that touches the heart with great characters and vibrant performances. For USA audiences it brings greater understanding of both Chinese and Japanese culture especially when we are reminded that the Japanese and Chinese have long had a relationship similar to but worse than the British and the French. For long periods of their history there has been no love lost between the peoples of these nations along with vast periods of war and mutual disdain. Mr. Takata knows not a word of Mandarin Chinese, and it is often funny to see Lingo slip into English trying to get his point across to Mr. Takata who seems also to know very little if any English. Spectacular settings illustrate the geographical and topographical diversity of this region of China rarely visited by westerners who favor, historically, the northeastern and southeastern regions of this vast country. Very little of the film actually takes place in Japan though there is a taste of Rei driving her father-in-law through Tokyo to see his son in the hospital. The film leaves a lasting and indelible impression for those who have become estranged from members of their family be they parent-child or even sibling-sibling relationships. The message is simple, take the time needed to resolve the differences, but do not wait too long because one never knows how long one has left to live. Anything can happen. Mr. Takakura does a brilliant job in showing the tortures on the mind of the senior Takata as he works tirelessly to capture the story of Lord Guan for his son and earn back his son's affections. Fortunately, the story proves out that while this may have been a most noble intention on his part, working to ensure the love of our loved ones prior to necessitating a last minute efforts, is probably a better route to go.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
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Other Projects Featuring
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2006) Cast Members
Ken Takakura
• Shinobu TerajimaOther Projects Involving
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2006) Director
Yimou Zhang
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2006) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Yimou Zhang, Chinese-born director of Jet Li's Hero, delivers a deeply moving and introspective drama in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles. Featuring an elder Japanese father portrayed to classic, stoic perfection by Ken Takakura, the story concerns Mr. Takata's discovery that his long-estranged, telejournalist son is in a Tokyo hospital dying of liver cancer. When his son refuses to see him, his daughter-in-law slips him a tape of his work which ultimately inspires the elder Takata to travel to the beautiful Chinese province of Yunnan to fulfill a promise to film a local folk opera. In the process, Takata faces nearly insurmountable government challenges and the imprisonment of the lead singer in order to attempt to produce a video he hopes will allow he and his son to reconcile before his death. The result is a culturally stimulating drama that touches the heart with vibrant characters and performances.
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