Luxury Car (2006/First Run Features DVD/Global
Lens Collection)
Picture:
B- Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Film: B
An old
country school teacher travels to the city of Wuhan in search for his son, to bring him
home and for him to see his dieing mother one last time. He but instead of find him, he finds his
daughter who works in a karaoke bar and is seeing a mobster. As his travels and search continues he begins
to wonder if it is better to not find him, not finding him could means there is
nothing to worry about and he has just moved on. Searching the city, he
uncovers the past, the truth is not often what seems to be... there is a
difference between truth and reality.
This is a well written film about the painful realities of how parents lose
contact with their children and have gone separate ways. It's the story of a father in search of his
long lost son in the city and his daughter who lives in the city. While helping her father to find her brother,
she hopes her father does not succeed, more importantly what happened to
her in her past, but as time goes on is hiding the truth really the answer
or will the past come back and haunt you?
This is a great film to watch, there is a lot of symbolism in the film and the
theme represents the growing gap between the modern Asian generations, new vs.
old, tradition vs. change. It represents
in Asian culture that even though the young generations wishes to change,
but they still want to honor and not shame the older generations. The symbolism in the title 'Luxury
Car', plays on the very idea on what a person would do to get 'luxury',
and then asks if it is really worth it?
That is just for starters.
Like many
of the modern and political change in modern China, under a veneer of a happy
and functional society there lies many other issues and problems, it teaches
that change doesn't come without a price. Extras include interviews and statements with
the director, plus Global Lens promos.
- Ricky Chiang
