Aftershock :: 唐山大地震 (2010)

I have never written a review about movies from China/Hong Kong simply because I have never taken/watched them seriously. Except for a few rare outstanding ones (which I happened to come across on TV), where it scarily reflects the realism, morality, and aspects of our society in this generation, very believable, very raw and they deeply echo the voices in our heart, our conscience and values.

Compared to Hollywood production, where everything always seems so glamorous and characters seemingly achieving what they desire easily, which, unfortunately, does not happen in the real world. Regarding Hong Kong movies, they have the knack of making it close to reality, human actions with consequences, choices to make, so surreal, so relatable.

Aftershock - 唐山大地震 - probably regarded as the epic Chinese blockbuster of the year is one of the rare gems I have come to watch and love.

Aftershock puts the audience in 1976 Tangshan, China, where strange events had been occuring - signs before leading up to a disastrous earthquake. Even though the CGI effects for the earthquake pales (just a little bit) in comparison with Hollywood's blockbusters, it is still amazing to see the remake of Tangshan's tragedy, as Mother Nature unleashes her wrath from within, breaking grounds, buildings falling, all hopes of escape are futile as the grounds sink and residents of Tangshan falling to their deaths, shattering countless of lives and families. All of these happening in just 23 seconds! Where 242,000 people died, and 164,000 people were seriously injured. It is indeed very heartbreaking, as the director cleverly portrays the emotional aspects of this scene, making it difficult to watch, feeling for them, as they get pulverized in the disaster.

The movie is not focused entirely on the disaster itself, but very much more on the aftermath of the earthquake, therefore, the title "Aftershock".

The story truly unfolds when the mother, Yuan Ni (李元妮) played brilliantly by actress Xu Fan (徐帆), is forced to choose between her twins, son Fang Da (方达) and daughter Fang Deng (方登), where what separates them is only a beam. Saving either will result in killing the other. She opts to save both but as time ticks, the children struggling to breath, she finally made the heart-wrenching decision to save her son (this is when tradition and culture intervenes, especially with the death of her husband) sadly, this is overheard by her daughter.

As both children are taken out from the rubble, Fang Deng (assumed dead) is left with her dead father. But a miracle ensues, as Fang Deng emerges from her unconscious state, wandering aimlessly around the dead bodies, her fragile, broken heart damaged, confused, saddened with her mother's decision - resulting her in being dumb and not able to speak for a period of time.

Yes. The pain is unbearable and very unthinkable. Imagine hearing your beloved mother choosing your siblings' life over you. It cannot even be imagined! The pain not only pierces directly into your heart, but your soul, sucking your life out, and you feel as if everything around you collapses.

As the plot evolves throughout the next 32 years, the narrative breaks into 2, showing the trials and tribulations of the 2 children growing up, interspersed with shots of the growing Tangshan, and the development of China's economy.

The mother, still unable to forgive herself, having feelings of guilt and remorse that has never diminished from the start. She refuses to move out from Tangshan (even with her filial son begging her to do so) to a better environment, afraid that her husband/daughter's soul would not be able to find their way home. Initially, she was reluctant to even move out from a tent to a better structured house in Tangshan, and every year while praying, burning incense, papers for her husband/daughter, she would repeat her house address - for 32 years.

Fang Da, played by Lee Chen (李晨), although lost his limb (the whole hand) from the disaster, went on to become a successful businessman with a traveling agency. He might be the only one who seems to have moved on after the tragedy, even if his mother is still entrapped in pangs of guilt and misery, but it is still forever etched in him, as he once said, "there's no worry if it's a small quake, and if there's a big one there will be no escape anyway."

The daughter, Fang Deng, played by Zhang Jingchu (张静初), grows up as Wang Deng - as she was rescued and adopted by an army couple (PLA soldiers) - both played excellently by Chen Dao Ming (陈道明) - the father and Chen Jin (陈瑾) - the mother - and with their nurturing care and love, managed to overcome her talking problem. However, she is still deeply haunted and traumatized by the whole ordeal , still angry and bitter, pretended to forget the whole incident and refuses to seek for her blood relatives although insisted by her adoptive parents. She pursued medicine (only to be interrupted by a teenage romance that resulted in her being pregnant) but moved to Canada and married a mat salleh.

Both children and mother continued on with their lives, and not until the 2008 Sichuan, China earthquake, by fate and destiny, that finally got both brother and sister reunited, as they became volunteers in the disaster.

The climax of Aftershock arrives, as Fang Da brings Fang Deng back to Tangshan, to their mother. As she enters her mother's home, right on the table below the portraits of herself and her dead father, is a plate full of persimmons. Her mother tells her she still remembers to buy the persimmons she has promised her. Even after so many years, the mother is still unable to make peace with herself, and this is when tears start to flow.

The act of forgiveness and reconciliation between the mother and daughter was definitely a stellar performance, it just tugs at your heartstrings, feeling terrible and painful for the mother for her tough choice, and the daughter, who after 32 years, did not make her presence and life known to her mother. It is very hard not to feel emotional at this powerful scene, unless you have the heart of a rock.

However, it is still unsure of Fang Deng if she truly forgives her mother, not until the very end, the finale, when she is brought to the graves of her father and herself. That she finally realized that her mother never had given up on her, never had once forgot about her, when she is showed that her mother had been buying 2 sets of everything, 1 for her brother, and 1 for her.

At this crucial point, she had come to a realisation of the emotional agony, remorse and guilt that her mother had harboured all this while, and she finally forgives her mother, as Fang Deng also feels guilty of all the accumulated feelings of bitterness and hatred towards her mother and brother all these years.

Aftershock is a poignant, emotional, heart-wrenching movie. What is even more heart-breaking is that all these events really do happen, and when Mother Nature strikes, there is really nothing we can do. The film deals with humans' fragility, vulnerability, dealing with the loss of loved ones, and forgiveness. In the span of 2 hours and 10 minutes, there is definitely not a minute that lacks emotion, the whole movie is emotion! The presentation of the people involved might be simple, but the human emotions so raw, so real, you just feel for the characters. The script and plot (adapted from a novel) is beautifully and cleverly written, not exaggerating, not flowery, but just simple words that targets directly to your heart. For example, a memorable quote from the mother, "没了，才知道什么叫没了." "you would only know the feeling of losing everything after going through it." Indeed, it is terrifyingly true. And of course, the excellent directing from director Feng Xiaogang (冯小刚).

Last but not least, the top-notch performances from all of the actors, including the child actors, especially the little girl who played Fang Deng.

I was very very much impressed by Xu Fan's acting as the mother. Her portrayal of the mother was just brilliant beyond words! You can just see through her eyes, so cold, so dead, and remorseful, it is so real, you just feel the need to try to be in her shoes, and sympathize with the ordeal she is going through. Her character just bravely tries to live her life, but just cannot let go her actions for not saving her daughter. Her crying scenes were all so beautifully done, especially when she reconciles with her daughter, that scene was just so powerful, it's crazy! Really hope that she would bag the Best Actress award in the Taiwan's Golden Horse awards this year.

I can't help but admit the main reason I was attracted to the movie (besides the rave reviews) was because of this wonderful actress - Zhang Jingchu. I have been on the alert radar for Zhang especially after watching glimpses of her in Protege (门徒) as a drug addict and in Night and Fog (天水圍的夜與霧) as a woman abused by her husband and later killed. And also in The Beast Stalker (证人), being the only female lead surrounded by all male actors, and still being able to stand her ground and channel her character well and not being overshadowed. Note: the movies mentioned above are all Hong Kong made. All of her characters had really made a strong impression on me! There's just something special and unique about her because she has the ability and charisma to make her character so believable and so human! Zhang Jingchu is just an extraordinary actress!

Some might feel that the way she portrays Fang Deng is a little bit lacking of emotion, but what I truly feel is she might have some suppressed and oppressed feelings, simply because of the ordeal she has gone through! Like not wanting to feel anything anymore, to protect herself from getting hurt too deeply again. Her breakdown scenes were perfectly done, especially the scene where she tells her adopted father about what happened in the earthquake, and she said, "我不是不记得，我是忘不掉." "it's not that i cannot remember, it's just that i cannot forget." So sad! And the last scene with her mother was just so touching as well.

The talented, super, cast and director of Aftershock.

If you like something as powerful as this that makes you want to shed a couple of tears, with awesome acting, this is a film that must not be missed! Even if you don't understand Mandarin, do give this movie a try that will shake your heart.