“Gone with the Boat,” or Cheng chuan er qu, is a 2023 Chinese drama directed by Xiaoyu Chen for the first time in his career. This drama portrays family love, death, and memory, and generally wisdom of all of the father’s life – life’s cycles.
Synopsis
The story illustrates the fate of Jin, an elderly woman who lives in a riverine village and is diagnosed with a malignant condition that is her brain, brain tumor. Her daughter, Jenny, a businessman in Shanghai, has a strong concentration to seek for the most suitable physicians for the appropriate treatment, while her son, Qing, offers travel guidance, philosophically advocates for acceptance of the natural life process. Yao, As Yao’s family go through the last days with her, they examine their roots, home and each other and consider the most important thing – home, does it change or not.
Cast and Key Performances
- Zhaomei Ge as Jin: Ge beautifully plays a mother who is getting old and reflecting on her life events with poise.
- Dan Liu as Jenny: Liu portrays the daughter’s inner conflict in relation to perfect life and family interdependencies.
- Zhoukai Wu as Qing: Wu never ceases to perform his character as a son who wishes things to be as they are and as they flow in life.
Visual Style
Using the riverside context of the village throughout the narration, Chen makes an effort to realize the passing time and constant changing of life. The village does possess wonderful grace and the audience experience its turbulence through the feeling of the characters in the film.
Audience Response
“Gone with the Boat” has received several awards including the Best Screenplay award at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Wong’s film features a positive depiction of the family’s conflict as well as themes of loss and homecoming which problem many nations.
Where to Watch
Since November 22, 2024, people can watch GONE WITH THE BOAT on such learning resources as MUBI and Amazon Prime Video. For viewers located in Delhi, India, it is possible to avail of these options, however there are some restrictions with regions.
Recommendations for Similar Films
GONE WITH THE BOAT is a lovely picture and is for the people who are interested in these films dealing with family issues, death and time:
- The Farewell (2019) – This is About a Chinese-American family that deals with a member’s deep illness across oceans and spans in cultures.
- “Sheng Xian” (2006): This Chinese feature film directed by Jia Zhang-Ke centers around the lives of people who are affected by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.
- “Tokyo Story” (1953): This Japanese film directed by Yasujiro Ozu is centered on the dynamics between family and the respective responsibilities toward the family as one starts being more self-focused in life.
These films provide a deeper understanding of the family dynamics and the shared situation of dealing with the loss, which every human will have to go through one day.