So Long, My Son (2019)

In the heartrending tale of 'So Long, My Son,' we trace the turbulent journey of Yaoyun and Liyun, a couple cocooned in their poignant past. Once a content family, their world shatters when their son drowns in a reservoir, a tragedy that sends them spiraling into the anonymous hustle of the big city, far from their home and the haunting memories it holds. As outsiders in this urban labyrinth, they grapple not only with the incomprehensible local dialect but also with the chasm growing between them and their adopted son Liu Xing, who defiantly turns his back on them, only to vanish one day. This saga, spanning three arduous decades of Chinese history, deftly intertwines the personal with the political, painting a vivid picture of individuals caught in the relentless gears of a society morphing at a breakneck pace. From the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution to the booming turbo-capitalism of the present, the film masterfully narrates the story of a nation in flux and the indelible scars it leaves on its people. 'So Long, My Son' traces the lives of two families, their destinies undulating against the backdrop of China's startling transformation. The loss of a child sets them on divergent paths, their fortunes reshaped by the country's changing face. Yet, amidst their disparate journeys, a shared quest for truth and reconciliation ties them together, forming a poignant connection around their common tragedy. The film explores the complex labyrinth of human relationships, the struggle for closure, and the challenge of bidding farewell. It is a stirring chronicle of individuals and a society in full transformation, a testament to the inescapable intertwining of personal trials with the tumultuous evolution of a nation. 'So Long, My Son' serves as an intimate, often melancholic exploration of the deep wounds hidden beneath the surface of an apparently unbroken success story, reminding us that sometimes, saying goodbye can indeed take a lifetime.

So Long, My Son is a drama movie featuring Wang Jingchun.

So Long, My Son is currently streaming on Mubi.