FLY WITH THE CRANE

...is a foreign film about an old man named Lao Ma, a 73 year old that lives in China. When the Chinese Government implemented practices in cremation instead of burial, Ma finds out that his business partner Cao dies who was involved in creating caskets. So Ma decides to go spend time with his grandchildren because he knows he doesn’t have much time left on earth. One big thing Ma believes in is when he dies, he does not want to be turned into a huge blanket of smoke but instead, be buried next to the river where White Cranes drink from. He also thinks that when one leaves the earth, the cranes will swoop down and pick up their remains and take them to the heavens. But of course none of his family takes in any of his words. they think he is insane! Everyday when Ma wakes up, he either goes to his job or sits on a tree’s stump, always looking for a white crane to land in the smooth water, taking a drink. He also spends a lot of time looking in one specific tree next to the river for white feathers to prove to his family that he is not insane or delusional. Overall, this odd but interesting movie focuses on the beliefs that you have and that whatever you believe in, know one can ever take that away from you.

The cinematography in the film was great, it was shot in hd and in great angles. always switching from one thing to the other but in a smooth way. The sound and color both tie in because director really wanted to have some quiet moments in the movie. For example, when Ma is visiting his dear friend Cao’s grave, there’s not a lot of talking in it except for a flute playing and the sun glaring down on the grave. On the technical side, it looks like they shot the movie really well. It looked like they used professional camera to shoot specific angles for parts of the film.

My favorite scene in the film was when the grandchildren were playing in the sand and playing with each other and then when they invited Ma to see who ever could bury the person in the sand in the shortest time. I liked that seen because it made me smile to see a 73 year old man playing in the sand with 6 year olds. I really liked the actor that played Ma because he played his part so well, sometimes being quiet and other times being a take in charge person.

Fly With The Crane was an interesting movie yet odd. I would recommend this film to people that like drama and foreign movies. I walked in a couple minutes late to the movie so I don't fully understand the whole concept of the movie but what i did get out of it, was very interesting... I rate this film 4/5.