The Bottom Line: ****
A child violinist comes with his father from a small village to Beijing in order to become a star. The movie is both heart-wrenching and touching. It highlights Chinese family values and cut-throat competition in a story that is intricate enough to be a fantastic movie.
The Tiyulon Take: So precisely highlights the disparities of modern China: the poor and rich; filthy and clean; bare-bones and luxurious, traditional and modern, and the econo-socio-moral forces pulling on its people from all directions.
Definitely a must-see!