ChicDragon
It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.
KnotStronger
This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
Nicole
I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Roland E. Zwick
Set in Mao's China, Zhang Yang's "Sunflower" is a tender and touching family drama that spans five decades, from 1967 to 2000. Xiangyang is only a baby when his father, Gengnian, an aspiring artist, is thrown into a "re-education camp" on a trumped-up charge of disloyalty to the state. When Gengnian is finally released and sent back to his family, Xiangyang is a nine-year-old boy with no memory of his dad and no interest in following in the old man's footsteps as a painter. This sets up an ongoing conflict between father and son that extends well into Xiangyang's early adulthood."Sunflower" is a subtle, thoughtful, deliberately paced look at just how much influence a parent can reasonably be expected to have over the life of a child, as Xiangyang comes to realize that until he can get out from under the thumb of his father, he has no real hope of ever becoming a fully independent man in his own right. For Gengnian, it's a matter of learning that he can't simply transfer all the thwarted and unfulfilled dreams he once had for his own life onto his son without eventually robbing the young man of his independence and breaking his spirit.The screenplay is scrupulously fair to all parties as it astutely explores the universal truths of filial relationships - with unmannered performances and self-effacing direction adding greatly to the naturalism of the piece.
lastliberal
It is so easy to see this film as a glimpse of China during a period of upheaval. We see the events of the era, notably Mao's death, the Gang of Four and their downfall, up to the era of small- and later large-scale capitalism. Focusing on changes in society and the impact on families, particularly one, in a small village causes us to lose sight of what this film is really about.Torn from his family and sent to a reeducation camp, Gengnian is determined to make up for the time he lost (six years) as a father. Like many fathers, and I include my own among them, he feels the need to be firm and instill discipline in his son; to guide him in the direction he "should" go. In this case, it is painting. You see so many American fathers in Gengnian, especially those who are children of the depression. You also see those fathers that live vicariously though their children and push them to excel even without asking if this is what they really want.The film gives us a glimpse of a changing China, but we also see family interaction in a way that we are not familiar with, and that alone makes it worthwhile. But, it is not a documentary; we should focus on our relationships with our fathers and sons, and we certainly will if we allow ourselves to be drawn into the film.Yang Zhang has given us something to really think about. With brilliant cinematography by Jong Lin (Bend it Like Beckham, Eat drink Man Woman), and an amazingly good performance by Joan Chen as the materialistic mother, it was a real treat.
pamelala-1
Sunflower is everything a first-rate film experience can be. It is a moving and wonderful story and beautiful to watch. It engaged me in every moment. The music is perfect, the casting and acting uniformly outstanding, the technical and aesthetic skills and intuitive choices of the writer, director and crew all add up to a superior artistic and emotional experience.The story of the struggle between a son and his father is universal, (but not always limited to sons). The historical, familial and societal structure in which the action takes place are uniquely Chinese. It is a multi-leveled experience to watch; the deeply personal, the historical/societal and the universal. To one degree or another, we can all relate to or have engaged in behaviors that take place in the context of this story, with friends as well as family.It is food for lingering thought and conversations about families, China, and how we are affected by the rapidly changing societies we live in.It is, as the person who sat behind said on his way down the aisle, "Well, that's one of the best movies I'll ever see." I agree.
bluebuxton
I recently watched this brilliant piece of cinema and was blown away by it. It takes us on a 30 year journey from a boy to man and his relationship with his parents, especially his father who was sent to a work camp during Mao's cultural revolution and returns when the boy is seven. From this point in time father and son clash as to what each one expects of the other. The interpersonal relationships between father and son, mother and son , husband and wife and the friendship between the father and his neighbour are just wonderful. This film shows us that throughout the world father's and son's encounter the same dilemma's and parents have the same worries about their children where ever they live in the world. Superb. Well worth watching. It is beautifully shot, the screenplay is great and the acting is fantastic. What more could you want.
