The director of YELLOW EARTH and FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE returns to a musical theme with this emotional story of the relationship between a young violin prodigy and his father. Cheng (Liu Peiqi) is a cook who lives in a provincial town with his talented teen son Xiaochun (Tang Yun). Hoping to give his boy the chances he never had, the father uses his meagre savings to move to Beijing where he can study with a master. Accepted by reclusive Professor Jiang (Wang Zhiwen), the boy teaches the master about life whilst he learns music. But a famous new teacher (the director) could mean success… TOGETHER mixes the director’s love of music with a commentary on contemporary China, highlighting the tension between western-influenced and traditional culture. It is evident in the soundtrack that blends European classical music by Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Strauss with Chinese folk music and in the contrasts found between old and modern neighbourhoods of Beijing.
Together With You
Directed by Chen Kaige