Shanghai Dreams

China 2006

Poster and details seattlefilm

Seen 12 October 2007

My nominee for one of the ten best films I've seen in 2007. Simple story line but the script, acting and direction make this a very satisfying outing. The film is set in 1980s China. The main focus is on a family who has been relocated to the countryside as part of the country's strategy to build a third front against their enemies.

We have a domineering father who has dreams of going back to Shanghai. He keeps a close watch on his daughter ever since she became close to a local boy. Some might say an obsessive watch. These two characters alone is worth the admission ticket.

The inner turmoil of the family is delicately set against the backdrop of the changes happening in the world at large. The change in the political climate is also reflected in the small hamlet and the consequences felt by the inhabitants. This has the incidental side effect on the social climate as depicted by the group of youngsters who want to build their own version of China.

Another plus point is the inclusion of songs by Teresa Teng and Boney M to reflect the mood of the decade. But the silences were also deftly put at the right moments to convey the emotional state of the characters.