MY LIFE IN CHINA – The Review

 

Review by Stephen Tronicek

Kenneth Eng’s MY LIFE IN CHINA  is the best type of intimate documentary, because it feels ultimately human: Imperfect, but vastly more interesting than anything fully fabricated. The fact is, documentaries such as HE NAMED ME MALALA don’t work, because they keep too much of a perfect arm’s length distance from the topic at hand. MY LIFE IN CHINA doesn’t bother with that, because it knows that life is not wrapped up perfectly like a bow.

Interestingly, that may not have even been the goal of Eng. MY LIFE IN CHINA  focuses on the time in 2007 that the director and his father spent in China. His father had become bankrupt in America, and having deserted China years ago, he and his father traveled back to China in effort to see if the father would want to return. This is already an interesting premise to build a documentary on, because it holds an upset emotional core. There’s a depth of sadness that comes with a man trying, and losing at “The American Dream.” Eng’s father feels he has failed. This all feels like it could be pandering to the audience, and if it had been the whole point and substance of the film it might not have really worked. However, since this film amounts to just Eng filming the trip, and his family members that doesn’t happen. That also means the film sacrifices a real sense of pacing.

It does not end up making a big difference because the family members, and their stories are so emotionally, and intellectually interesting. They speak about their own troubles, and cook really interesting cultural dishes such as chicken in a homemade dirt oven. For as much as these people keep the film interesting there is plenty to be seen other than the discussion of life in America and China. However, the real heart of the film comes from Eng’s father.  By the end of the film you really know this man, cigarette in hand. He’s exposing a raw nerve of emotion here, speaking about the fact that even though he went through so much (walking 6 days, and swimming 4 hours in the effort of defecting) he has ultimately failed. There’s a great moment in the film where Eng asks him if he regrets any of it. The father responds with the line “Regrets? It has already been a lifetime” Most documentaries or films that I’ve come across would rather shy away from such an outlook, but this allows complexity to build throughout the entire film.

Such an outlook also leads to the film being ultimately more satisfying because even though he has run into problems, there’s still an undying optimism in his personality. Eng’s father is the center of this doc. His personal experience is the center of this doc, and if that story told well is affecting enough for me to be interested throughout the 82 minute running time, I’m sure it will be enjoyed by you.

4 of 5 Stars