Continuing with my Asian films blogs

 

       The Road Home has nothing to do with martial arts but tradition. It stars the beautiful and very talented Zhang Ziyi of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and many other outstanding films. Released to US audience in 2001 (I believe) and written by Bao Shi. It was adapted from his novel Remembrance.

 

     There was a time when public school teachers could show these types of movies to students as part of Cultural Appreciation/Diversity thematic units. No foul language whatsoever, no suggestive anything. A story told in its true, simple form. So many times I have told stories to my students, mostly stories that had a Native American theme. I rarely read these types of stories but simply told them. Students preferred the telling rather than the reading. 

 

       This particular Chinese film never left me. Our Instructional Coach, who conducted our Professional Development staff meetings, utilized it and the story moved every single member of the staff. They were in awe of what they learned from the movie. It is a wonderful story. The scenery is beyond magnificent, as is the acting, and the story line.

 

       The story is about a country girl and a young teacher from the city who fall in love. They have one child, a son, who grows up and leaves the village of his birth for the big city where he is educated and now works. Upon receiving the news that his father has died, the son returns to the remote village for the funeral. To get home, he travels by car, by horse and cart, and then by horse. The respected teacher passed away while visiting another village. His mother refuses to have her beloved husband’s body returned to their village by car or even by horse and cart. The son attempts to persuade his mother to allow his father’s remains to be brought back at least by a horse and cart but he comes to realize how important the ritual, the tradition, of carrying the coffin back to their village is to his mother. The coffin must be carried back on the shoulders of men and no other way. As the procession starts out, a heavy snow storm hits the area, but the loyal friends, the men and people, trudge on through snow drifts, chanting, beating the drums, and shouting out the deceased father’s name. They do this so that his spirit will always be able to find its way home. 

 

       Tradition.

 

       It is such a wonderful story of deep respect for a beloved teacher, a reverence for tradition,  a love for a mother and father, of loyalty found in a small, poor community…  I have left out so much. I encourage everyone to see the film. I treasure my copy.