Tear-jerker Chinese film proves massive box-office success

Vittoria, Valeria, Elaine?

Where's Chuck and Luciano and James and Peter?

Thank god the director wasn't ashamed of her name.

"Chinese people are really introverted and not good at expressing their feelings," said Jing. 

Really? cause that's not my experience with them. Usually they are extremely aggressive and opinionated. At least that's been my experience

If you want a real tear-jerker set in China, see the BBC's doc on the Uighurs.

This is an apolitical movie. It is about a middle aged woman who lost her mom at a young age and regretted that she was never able to give her mom a better life. She then travels back in time to before when she was born to try to make her mom's life better.

"Really? cause that's not my experience with them. Usually they are extremely aggressive and opinionated. At least that's been my experience" "Them"? Hmm. Really? I have worked closely with Chinese customers for over a decade. Some of them may be a bit rough on the surface, but once you get to know them and earn respect, I find them to be the nicest people. They are warm and kind and treat me like one of their own. Unlike people from certain countries, so polished and polite on the surface, but would not hesitate to back stab you.

"If you want a real tear-jerker set in China, see the BBC's doc on the Uighurs." Are you posting on the wrong forum? This is an apolitical movie. It is so hard for women to make it in the entertainment industry. Can't we celebrate Ms. Jia's achievement? Or are all Chinese people guilty by association? Or do they deserve blame over completely unrelated matters simply because of they are Chinese?

"Them"? Hmm. Really? I have worked closely with Chinese customers for over a decade. Some of them may be a bit rough on the surface,

that's what my first post meant. You are not disagreeing with me here.

but once you get to know them and earn respect, I find them to be the nicest people.

ANYONE is nice if you get to know them and earn their respect.

They are warm and kind and treat me like one of their own.

Well I guess that's YOUR experience...

Unlike people from certain countries, so polished and polite on the surface, but would not hesitate to back stab you.

Funny, cause that's EXACTLY been my experience with the Chinese.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree

@Aly Rustom,

Sure we can agree to disagree. I just think the generalization of the moral behavior of an entire population is the very definition of discrimination. Isn't that what Nazis did to Jewish people? What the US did to Japanese Americans during WWII? Are all Chinese good, of course not. With 1.4 billion people, there will be good and bad. I have encountered nasty people in China, but I have also encountered nasty people in America, in Europe and many other places. Every race/nationality has nasty people. But I don't make a comment under an article about a movie to imply that the people from a certain country are morally worse than other nations.

And why are we even having this conversation under this article? It's like an American woman director makes a successful movie and I make a comment about nasty experience I had with Americans. Do you have something against Ms. Jia? She is a woman director who has overcome huge obstacles to achieve a place in a male dominated industry. Or is her nationality, something that she was born with and had no control over, your issue?

HolaKittyToday  03:16 pm JST

"Hate China" (and Russia) is the official ideology of the US and those who brown-nose America.

Really? cause that's not my experience with them. Usually they are extremely aggressive and opinionated. At least that's been my experience

I could say the very same about Americans, but that would be a terrible and unfair generalization.

Actually meeting, hanging out and talking with both Americans and Chinese... this is how you get to know people. Don't rely on online caricatures and odd types. In most cases, people are great. It's the unpleasant ones who spoil it for everyone else.

Looks like an interesting film, anyway.

This story reminds me of Amy Tan’s book The Joy Luck Club, which similarly went back in time to appreciate the suffering of mothers, and had me in tears.

Soma for the masses? While their government continues with oppression and genocide.

"Hate China" (and Russia) is the official ideology of the US and those who brown-nose America.

straight from the CCP handbook

Such ‘*cryptic looking***’ photos, hurt the **efforts to bridge the political and cultural gaps between countries. Everyone around the world wishes they had done more for their mother. But, these photos are blurry and such a distraction. (They look as if ‘secreted’ out and retrieved from a damaged SIM card.).

What a shame!* Is this the best way to represent China’s version of “Demon Slayer” success? **(They are not even formatted to fit the framework of the presentation. The people in frame look disinterested, the seats and lobby almost empty. Can’t really tell if this was unintentional*.?.

Sure we can agree to disagree. I just think the generalization of the moral behavior of an entire population is the very definition of discrimination.

incorrect. It is an observation. Acting on it is discrimination.

Isn't that what Nazis did to Jewish people? What the US did to Japanese Americans during WWII?

Or the Chinese doing it to Uighurs? Why did you leave that one out?

Are all Chinese good, of course not. With 1.4 billion people, there will be good and bad. I have encountered nasty people in China, but I have also encountered nasty people in America, in Europe and many other places. Every race/nationality has nasty people. But I don't make a comment under an article about a movie to imply that the people from a certain country are morally worse than other nations.

I didn't make a comment about the Chinese being good or bad. I said that they are aggressive and opinionated . And its true. You just proved my point! LOL!

And why are we even having this conversation under this article?

Because the article itself says

"Chinese people are really introverted and not good at expressing their feelings," said Jing. 

I am commenting on her comment which I disagree with.

Do you have something against Ms. Jia? 

I have something against her comment

"Chinese people are really introverted and not good at expressing their feelings,"

I could say the very same about Americans, but that would be a terrible and unfair generalization.

maybe. maybe not. It doesn't have any correlation to the comment of this director, which I disagree with.

Actually meeting, hanging out and talking with both Americans and Chinese... this is how you get to know people. Don't rely on online caricatures and odd types. In most cases, people are great. It's the unpleasant ones who spoil it for everyone else.

I have hung out with both, and through my experiences formed my opinion.

@Aly Rustom

Completely agree with you here. In general you don't find people from free countries where individualism is respected making sweeping statements of the kind

"Chinese people are really introverted and not good at expressing their feelings"

Sounds good, looking forward to seeing it.

A couple thoughts come to mind:

There were many wonderful films that came out of China before the current round of heavy censorship settled in. It must be tough walking that particular tight-rope. Artists work best in a free environment.

Regarding the role of the mother in the family, I couldn't agree more. I may be the one who does most of the bread winning for us, but it is the mother around whom the family revolves. She is the one who works the magic for us.

On the topic of Chinese and their emotions.....

I grew up in California, and have known many people of Asian descent. They tend to show fewer emotional extremes, at least in public, but I would never say that they are not emotional. Maybe the problem is that some people do not recognize emotion unless they are hit over the head with it.

Aly RustomMar. 1 09:19 am JST

"Chinese people are really introverted and not good at expressing their feelings," said Jing. 

Really? cause that's not my experience with them. Usually they are extremely aggressive and opinionated. At least that's been my experience

The Chinese I met, particularly in China, are very nice.  Maybe Jing is suggesting they are shy about expressing romantic feelings.  Anyhow, while in Chengdu, at the airport before departing, I left the bathroom and a stranger looked at me as if I did something wrong.  He led me to his wife (I assume it was his wife) standing several feet away and she handed me my boarding pass that I did not know I dropped.  I have a gut feeling they probably would have done the same if I dropped money.  I thanked them profusely in my limited Chinese language capacity. No doubt some Chinese would have kept the money even if they saw me drop it.  There are good and bad, honest and dishonest, etc, people everywhere. Yes, many are aggressive, especially some Chinese tourists, but certainly not all.

On the topic of Chinese and their emotions.....

I grew up in California, and have known many people of Asian descent.

those are Americans not Chinese

 There are good and bad, honest and dishonest, etc, people everywhere. Yes, many are aggressive, especially some Chinese tourists, but certainly not all.

no one is saying they are all bad.

however, they are opinionated and aggressive. It’s different from saying they are all bad