Xizao

Last Thursday, I went to Signs and Wonders and watched Shower, a drama about a bathhouse in Beijing ran by a father and his youngest son, Er Ming. The movie starts with the older of the two sons, Da Ming, going back home because he thinks his father has died. He learns that it was a misunderstanding but stays in Beijing a little while to see how his father and brother are doing; Da Ming had no idea if his family was alright because he had been away so long. As the movie goes on, the audience enjoys many laughs and touching moments that support the theme of the movie, change. For example, the location of the bathhouse is very traditional to Chinese culture while the northern region Da Ming lives in is becoming extremely modernized. Having Da thrown back into Beijing where he grew up creates many moments on screen where both worlds become equally important to Da Ming.

I am really intrigued by movie's in which the protagonist is required to change for the greater good. The greater good could be several things. Usually in films I watch, the greater good is something like saving humanity, society, or another dramatic goal. Aragorn is required to save the race of men in Middle-Earth by becoming the king. Luke is responsible for bringing balance to the Force through the way of the Jedi. The Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars saga are two of my favorite series but when I watch a movie where the protagonist must take up a very simple but real responsibility, I enjoy it the same as any other film. Da Ming takes on so much responsibility throughout the movie that the viewer realizes Da Ming doesn't need to change the people or the world around him. Instead, its about the alterations that happen to himself, which is possibly the greatest change anyone can go through.