Lilting 2014

     Junn is a Cambodian Chinese mother living in a retirement home in London.  She was moved here because she was becoming more and more forgetful.  The home has period pieces to encourage the elderly people to feel younger.  Junn immigrated to Britain decades ago but she didn't assimilate into the town and was dependant on her son for many of her needs.  Her only visitor was her son Kai but he died.  Alan is her friend at the home but they don’t speak each other’s language and there is no verbal communication.  Kai’s friend Richard comes to visit Junn. He arranges for a translator to come to the home to help Junn and Alan talk to each other.  Richard has been thinking about asking Junn to live with him in the apartment he shared with Kai.  He doesn’t know if this would work out?  All he knows is that they are both suffering the death of Kai.

     The home seems like a nice place but Junn seems unwilling to give it a chance.  It is difficult for an aging society to leave their own homes for another home.  There are opportunities but she would rather not become involved.  Richard has only honorable and caring intentions but Junn is not sure about him and his reasons for seeing her?  I thought this was very interesting, enjoyable but with an undercurrent of sadness.  There are still some funny moments.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

 

91 min, Drama directed by Hong Khaou with Ben Whishaw, Pei-pei Cheng, Andrew Leung, Morven Christie, Naomi Christie, Peter Bowles.

 

Note:  Imdb 7.1 out of 10, 81% critic 80% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*.