Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

Review: RIDING ALONE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES (Sony Classics) Directed by Zhang Yimou

A nice, cozy respite from the flamboyant wuxia theatrics of his recent international action sensations Hero (2002) and House of Flying Daggers (2004), Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles brings Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou back to his sparser, more character-driven roots. When his estranged son falls terminally ill, an aging Japanese fisherman, Takata (played by the stoic Ken Takakura), tries to make amends with him by finishing his latest project--the filming of a Chinese opera. The task proves surprisingly difficult, taking Takata on a journey of reconciliation not just with family, but also with cultural and political boundaries. Lushly shot and proudly sentimental, the film is as moving and plaintive as a folk ballad.

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