Sunflower

Country: China 2005

Picture Toronto IFF
Details Toronto IFF

Seen 25 February 2006
Another father-son story. This time from China. Father is the typical Asian disciplinarian whereas the son grudgingly follows the father's wishes. The father's involvement in his son's life goes to the extent of taking a role in the son's love relationship. The father-son love hate relationship continues until the son reaches adulthood and has his own life. There was a scene when in the heat of an argument, the son mentioned that the father succeeded in his role as a family provider but failed miserably as a 'father'. The son only realises how much love the father has for him at the end of the story when he discovered a tape recording. The father never acknowledges openly his son's success or talent until the very end. Even then. it was just a handshake with minimal words of congratulations. Both father and son had the same stubborn streak but in the end, they did realise that despite all the differences throughout the years, there exists a strong bond between them.