Tigertail

I really liked this movie, but it left me asking more questions. Man leaves the woman he loves and his mother to go to another country to seek bigger opportunities. Got it… There’s a lot of jumping around in time periods, leaving several holes. Kid becomes old man, raises family, becomes estranged from his family. What happened? Why is so bitter? There needed to better character development. I liked the actors and although the pace of the movie was slow, it set the tone, which was sadness. The plot is similar to “Past Lives”, but that movie was better I thought. I thought director-writer, Alan Yang, wasted too much time, driving home the point how sad the man’s life became. He was ****. Show me how he got that way. He was young, energetic kid to turned into a sullen old man. Character development. To be honest, if I was studio exec, I would ask myself “How do I sell this movie to the public?” Although it maybe a cautionary tale, the viewer, like me, will be left sad and unsatisfied.

Age old story of a man coming to terms with his legacy in life. This time filtered interestingly through the lens of a Chinese immigrant story. The transitions can come off as awkward and Tzi Ma's character can feel stilted at times. The ending scene also doesn't drive home the emotion and feels odd. Overall, it might make you tear up on occasion and is a worthwhile watch.