Together

êêê½

Rating

For mild language and thematic elements

Director

Kaige Chen

A wonderful gift

Liu Xiaochun (Yun Tang) started playing the violin at the age of three, when his mother left him a sad legacy, a beautiful violin, as she deserted Xiaochun and his father Liu Cheng (Peiqi Liu). Now 13, this child prodigy has a chance to become a concert violinist.

With no opportunities in their remote Chinese village, Cheng takes Xiaochun to Beijing, with the hopes of him becoming a student in a prestigious music conservatory. Although he's clearly the best applicant in an audition, Xiaochun comes in number five because they are too poor to make a "targeted contribution"(AKA, bribe).

Cheng is a peasant in the big city, who disarms people with his persistent attitude and country charm to get what the wants. He convinces local teacher Professor Jiang (Zhiwen Wang), an instructor who is in a professional funk, to accept Xiaochun as his student. Jiang is limited in what he can do to further the boy's progress but he does give Xiaochun some good advice regarding being an outstanding violinist: work hard, enjoy the music and don't' play only when thinking of the mother that left you.

Cheng tries to convince master teacher Professor Yu Shifeng (Kaige Chen who is also the film's director) to accept Xiaochun. Reluctant at first, Yu eventually takes him as a student and has the boy come to live in his home with his family, including his daughter, also a violinist who is technically strong, but does not play from the heart. Only one of them will be selected for an important competition.

When Xiaochun's neighbor Lili (Hong Chen), a beautiful playgirl with western ways hears him practicing, she hires him to play for her and her boyfriend. Xiaochun falls in love with Lili, though she sees him as a little brother, and at one-point he sells his violin to buy her a beautiful white, fur-collared coat that she longs for.

Kaige Chen, who also directed "Farewell My Concubine," tells a story here that is melodramatic and a little too sweet at times. It is however, based upon a true story, which like all movies has been modified to some extent. In this case, taking poetic license made a film that feels like poetry. "Together" talks to you, with its music and poignancy, especially during the surprising and apropos playing of Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So."

Evoking similar feelings about family and friends as "The Road Home," "Together" is an inspirational film portraying how by helping one another we help ourselves. There is an unexpected, lovely and unselfish lesson to be learned in this father and son relationship.

Beautifully photographed, this film illustrates just how modern Beijing is, while still having its poor sections where even substandard housing is in strong demand. "Together" is a story about growth at various stages in life (young adult to middle age), and plays out to the tune of classical music so wonderful that if you closed your eyes and missed the movie, you'd still enjoy the trip to the theater.