In many cultures the gap between urban and city life does not just divide two different ways of living, but also quite often families, as the old generations usually stay in the countryside while the young generations seeks new opportunities in the cities of the world. While this constitutes a concept which has now become almost a stereotype, the reality shows how true this idea still is, and how interesting and at times emotionally challenging it can be when these two very different lives meet. In his 2020 feature “The Reunions”, which is based on “A Final Reunion”, an early short feature of his, Chinese actor, comedian and director Da Peng tells the story of such an encounter, which blends fiction and reality. Partly a re-telling of the aforementioned short, “The Reunions” is a very personal project about the lives we choose for ourselves, family bonds, about estrangement and possibilities to re-connect.
The Reunions is screening at Asian Pop-Up Cinema
In the first part of the movie, we meet Wang Quingli (Liu Lu) who has traveled to her home in the countryside to attend a family meeting following her grandmother's death after a long period of sickness. Even before the burial ceremony takes place, heated discussions erupt among her aunts and uncles who should now be taking care of Quingli's father Ji Xiang, who suffers from brain damage after a tragic accident some years ago. Because his mother took care of him before becoming bedridden herself, the siblings fight among themselves about the responsibility of taking care of him, a man who mostly wanders the streets mumbling the names of his brothers and sisters in order to remember their names. As it is decided Quingli should be the one to take care of Ji Xiang, a man who has become a stranger to her, she faces a decision which will change her life.
After roughly 45 minutes, the story shifts, now focusing on the director's story, who, after a Q&A session following a screening of “A Final Reunion”, contemplates whether his filming might have been a cause in his grandmother's death. As he re-counts the production of the movie, with actress Liu Lu now playing herself, the director thinks about this strange encounter with his past and his responsibility as a family member.
At its core, “The Reunions” is a feature about family, most importantly the difficulties which arise when you have become estranged to your relatives. Set firmly at the center of the story is a family gathering following the death of the grandmother, during which Ji Xiang's siblings first discuss, and after a while argue about who will now take responsibility over their brother, who, as they are quick to admit, has done so much for them and their mother, but has become a burden over the years. Wang Quingli, nicknamed “Lili” in the movie, seems more like a bystander while the gathering turns almost into a fistfight between her relatives, with one of her aunts threatening she will divorce her husband due to his heartless behavior. These scenes are essential when it comes to talking about the approach the director has taken, since he, like Lili, has taken over the role of the bystander, unable (or unwilling?) to interfere in this fight.
While focusing on the borders between brother and sister, and the rest of the family, Da Peng also shows the opportunities to bridge the gap. Especially the relationship to Ji Xiang, whose condition has also branded him some kind of stranger for his siblings, turns into an encounter with a past life, and a chance for reconciliation. Combined with the director's own contemplation on his responsibility and his role within the family unit, these scenes establish the emotional core of “The Reunions”, making the filmmaker's approach both thoughtful and relatable, even though it might strike you as abstract considering the abrupt change of perspective after the first half. This is also thanks to the director's family playing themselves as well as his other cast, most importantly actress Liu Lu, who gives a great performance as a woman having to decide between her responsibility for her family in the country and the one she left behind in her home in the city.
In conclusion, “The Reunions” is a thoughtful portrayal of family, estrangement and, as the title suggests, the chances for an emotional reunion. While Da Peng's narrative approach might strike you as abstract at first, it quickly becomes obvious how personal the story is to him, and how he also perhaps needed time to face what must have been a very difficult time in his life.
