It is not easy to review Royston Tan’s Little Note in English.
Simply because this is a Chinese production. The story, the values, the cinematography is very much Asian’s. The sentimental oriental can only be drawn out by its native language. Hence this review is a supplementary to my main article in Chinese.
Set in the 70’s, in a nostalgic countryside. This a simple but touching story about Zhi Ren and his mother.
In a short span of 12 minutes, Little Note drawn out teary eyes and have our hearts strung to each and every details in the film.
The finest things in our lives are sometimes the simplest.
Like how little Zhi Ren is able to draw strength each and every time he found the little notes of encouragement from his mother. And how his mother takes joy when her son sheltered her with the leaf of a lotus as she ferries him back from school.
“Don’t be afraid”
A lotus shelter for mum
Fatherless, Zhi Ren is often ostracized by his classmates in school.
“Nobody wants to play with me….they said I do not have a father” Zhi Ren came home crying bitterly one day. But his mother didn’t allow him to wallow in self-pity. Undefeated, she told him, ”Tell them, your father lives inside here.” as she put her hand on Zhi Ren’s heart.
“They don’t want to play with me…they said I don’t have a father….”
But she shed her tears finally when Zhi Ren sang the song ”世上只有妈妈好” at his school concert. (This is a world renown children’s song, which in its essence means “blessed is the child with mother’s love”.)
The cinematography is beautiful. And the simple melody that stitches up each and every scene is one of the key elements that makes this short film so heart wrenching. The amazing thing is, I’ve watched the film at least 3 times and each time I’m moved to tears.
Little Notes is not without imperfection though. My key complains are:
i. Being such a short film, the story telling has to take place at lightning speed, leaving me sometimes in despair when I can’t fully decode the meaning behind those scenes. Like, why was Zhi Ren being punished on his first day of school?
ii. I find the mother looking just as young, despite little Zhi Ren has grown up. And
iii. Just before Zhi Ren left for his studies in Europe, his mother was telling him how the stem of lotus leaf would not snap because it’s hollow within. I know this was a question Zhi Ren asked when he was playing with the lotus when he was little. But I couldn’t find a connection between this speech and how it can be used as an encouragement to Zhi Ren.
Playing with the lotus leaf like he used to when little
“The stem doesn’t snap because it’s hollow within…do you understand now?”
However being such a beautiful film, I just wanted to find reasons for what seems inconsistent to me to dispel my doubts. And I found for most of them.
Little Note is a memory of a son away from home. In our memories, don’t we always remember our mother to be young like she was when we were little? At least that is how I used to remember my mother. And I only ended up in shock one day when I finally come home - to realize my mum is already old, slightly hunched and in need my support.
And just like the empty stem of a lotus, we need to let go of our baggage, so that we can take in more from life.
I believe only when a film is created with heart and soul, will it touches the audience’s. And I believe Royston Tan’s Little Note, is such a production from the entire cast and crew.
I give it a 4 out of 5 stars for quality and enjoyment. It is a great deliverance from the cast, which told the story with the most natural and convincing acting skill. Thumbs up Royston and crew, hope to see more great productions from you soon.
Posts
