The story is incredibly moving as Huolong and his grandmother grow ever closer. Initially, Huolong is angry and withholding, but eventually, he learns to accept and appreciate his grandmother, though she keeps the news of his father a secret. I love Huolong's characterization as a rowdy and emotional, but overall good kid, and how that plays against his grandmother who is calm, compassionate, and determined.
The cinematography is incredible beautiful, from the close-ups that capture the intimate family bonding to the wide angle shots display the stunning farms and rivers. The scenes showing Huolong running through the farms are very appealing. The grandmother's attire is beautiful, while retaining the simplicity of farmer's clothing. The locations are beautiful and show American audiences the unfamiliar geography of China's stunning river basins. The landscapes have an appealing aesthetic, as do the stone and wood of the houses.
The music perfectly captures the sad and sentimental tone of the scenes. When the narrator describes the story of the gods, the music sweeps the audience into the story. The upbeat music emphasizes Huolong's playful personality, while the soft, wistful woodwind music helps convey the grandmother's calm and wisdom. The sounds of the cello force your eyes to well as the grandmother cries, worried about her son and grandson.
Every actor performs beautifully, but Yanshu Wu, as the grandmother, stands out. She expresses the emotions that any grandmother would feel from her frustration to her remorse and her love. This film will play well on a big screen.
The message is that family is the most valuable thing in the world. It's important to value and appreciate our family and all they do for us. The lesson behind the story hits home with me personally, because growing up in an Asian American family, I also have had to learn the importance of family that is so valued in Asian culture. It contains some profanity. I can't say anything about the profanity in Mandarin, but the subtitles do possess some minor language. This film made me want to learn more about my own Chinese culture and native language. I'm also captivated by the stories of the Chinese gods that are referenced throughout the film. My favorite part is the bonding of Huolong and his grandmother. It reminds me of my own relationship with my grandmother, and how important that is. The actress Yanshu Wu is well known, although she is mainly recognized in China rather than the US.
I give The Bamboo Hat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You should know that the dialogue is in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles. Reviewed by Abigail L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic
The story is incredibly moving as Huolong and his grandmother grow ever closer. Initially, Huolong is angry and withholding, but eventually, he learns to accept and appreciate his grandmother, though she keeps the news of his father a secret. I love Huolong's characterization as a rowdy and emotional, but overall good kid, and how that plays against his grandmother who is calm, compassionate, and determined.
The cinematography is incredible beautiful, from the close-ups that capture the intimate family bonding to the wide angle shots display the stunning farms and rivers. The scenes showing Huolong running through the farms are very appealing. The grandmother's attire is beautiful, while retaining the simplicity of farmer's clothing. The locations are beautiful and show American audiences the unfamiliar geography of China's stunning river basins. The landscapes have an appealing aesthetic, as do the stone and wood of the houses.
The music perfectly captures the sad and sentimental tone of the scenes. When the narrator describes the story of the gods, the music sweeps the audience into the story. The upbeat music emphasizes Huolong's playful personality, while the soft, wistful woodwind music helps convey the grandmother's calm and wisdom. The sounds of the cello force your eyes to well as the grandmother cries, worried about her son and grandson.
Every actor performs beautifully, but Yanshu Wu, as the grandmother, stands out. She expresses the emotions that any grandmother would feel from her frustration to her remorse and her love. This film will play well on a big screen.
The message is that family is the most valuable thing in the world. It's important to value and appreciate our family and all they do for us. The lesson behind the story hits home with me personally, because growing up in an Asian American family, I also have had to learn the importance of family that is so valued in Asian culture. It contains some profanity. I can't say anything about the profanity in Mandarin, but the subtitles do possess some minor language. This film made me want to learn more about my own Chinese culture and native language. I'm also captivated by the stories of the Chinese gods that are referenced throughout the film. My favorite part is the bonding of Huolong and his grandmother. It reminds me of my own relationship with my grandmother, and how important that is. The actress Yanshu Wu is well known, although she is mainly recognized in China rather than the US.
I give The Bamboo Hat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. You should know that the dialogue is in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles. Reviewed by Abigail L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic
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