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While it may be hard to think positive during a time of worldwide pandemic, one effect of the Coronavirus that one might call an upside is how the crisis is bringing families closer together. As quarantine orders grow and encourage millions across the globe to remain in their homes, families are coming together to get through this time of great suffering together. The bond between family members is a bond like no other, and often, family members will go to extreme lengths if it means supporting the people they love. One can see another example of such a bond in the subject of today’s discussion, the Chinese-French co-production, “The Nightingale”.
Directed by French director Phillip Muyl (who also crafted the screenplay with writer Ning Ning), this Mandarin Chinese language film stars Li Bao Tian as Zhu Zhi Gen, an elderly widow and the grandfather of young Ren Xing, played by Xin Yi Yang. In order to uphold a promise he made to his deceased wife, Zhi Gen begins a journey across China towards the village where his wife had grown up. In his hands is a cage with a bird, the titular nightingale, which he intends to release upon reaching the village. Joining him on the journey is Xing, whose spoiled, big-city-raised personality provides a source of stress for her weathered, rural-raised grandfather. Nonetheless, the two grow closer over the course of their journey, and they come to discover new values they never considered before.
Submitted by China for a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, “The Nightingale” was ultimately denied a nomination, but has found success at various other awards and festivals around the world. At the 2014 China Australia International Film Festival, the film was given a Jury Award for Best Picture and lead actor Li Bao Tian was given the award for Best Actor. Li was given the same award at the Minsk International Film Festival’s Children and Youth Films Competition that same year, as well as the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2014. In addition, the film was the Audience Choice Award at the RiverRun International Film Festival, and was nominated in the same category at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
It’s hard to argue that the relationship between a grandparent and their grandchild is anything but special, and “The Nightingale” only provides further evidence as to how meaningful such a bond can be for both individuals. In a time when many are deeply concerned about the well-being of their families (especially family members who have reached senior status), it’s more important than ever to reflect on how much our loved ones mean to us. This film is an excellent tool for doing so, and those interested can access the film on a variety of digital platforms, including Vudu, iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube.
