Sunflower
(2005/New Yorker Films DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: B-
Zhang
Yang made a real splash (no pun intended) with his surprisingly effective
comedy Shower a few years ago and
for those lucky enough to have seen it, it is still remembered fondly. Sunflower
(2005) is a semi-autobiographical look at his growing up in China from
childhood to trying to break free of his parents, but despite some overlap with
this kind of melodrama, the Chinese setting and the difference in norms and
ways make this take as interesting and even surprising as it is honest.
Starting
at nine-years-old, his alter ego Xiangyang is already getting into trouble with
only his mother (the underrated Joan Chen) around and after a few exploits, his
long-gone father returns after disappearing for reasons that are not clear at
first, but this is Communist China, so the least incident could be a reason to
disappear, sometimes permanently. He is
not happy about the return of the father at first, fighting with him, but
instead of resolution, it continues to be subtle and explicit conflict
throughout his life.
I give
Yang credit for being so honest and open, but this becomes a character study of
his country as much as his family and is bolder still. You would never see a U.S. equivalent,
because rarely do we see such a story here without fuzzy phony warmth that has
nothing to do with real life. Not that
the U.S. is as restrictive as Russia, but it is not this dream place where
everyone is falsely happy. That is why Sunflower resonates beyond the borders
of its country of origin.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is a little softer than expected, but it
is still a good-looking shoot by Director of Photography Jong Lin and New
Yorker should put this on their shortlist of Blu-ray candidates. The Dolby Digital 5.1 has limited surrounds
and though well-recorded, likely would sound better in a better audio
codec. Extras includes the original
theatrical trailer and a making-of featurette.
- Nicholas Sheffo
