Musallam Almashali
Professor. Michele Desmarais
INST-4140-856
December 11, 2017
Short Assignment #3: Chinese Traditions in Film Jia Zhangke’s 2015 film, “Mountains May Depart,” tells the story of Tao, Zhang and Dollar over three parts. In part one, a young, vibrant Tao is courted by poor but kind-hearted, coal miner Liangzi, and the brash, wealthy entrepreneur Zhang. Zhang eventually wins out, although Tao’s feeling for Laingzi remain. Zhang marries Tao and they have a son, whom Zhang names Dollar in light of his hope to become rich enough to move abroad.
In part two, several years have passed and Tao and Zhang have divorced but share custody of Dollar. Tao is wealthy, through her investments in gas stations, but she is not the happy, young girl of the past. She worries about: the declining health of her father, who eventually dies; and the increasing alienation she discovers with Dollar when he visits. Indeed, Dollar seems to have submitted to his father’s focus on making money and going abroad.
In part three, Dollar is now a teenager living with his father in Australia. There is no mention of Tao who is assumed to have been forgotten by both her son and husband. The relationship between Dollar and Zhang has also deteriorated as Zhang unendingly insists that Dollar assimilate into the local culture, go to college and make …show more content…
Both Tao and Zhao are completely committed to doing everything they can, to see that Dollar is successful; even if that means controlling all aspect of his life. We also see in the relationship between Tao, Zhang and Dollar, the Confucian influence of the importance of study and education. Tao, and especially Zhang, continually tell Dollar that he needs to study hard and go to college. Their belief is based on the Confucian idea that through education he can improve himself and improve his place in
Professor. Michele Desmarais
INST-4140-856
December 11, 2017
Short Assignment #3: Chinese Traditions in Film Jia Zhangke’s 2015 film, “Mountains May Depart,” tells the story of Tao, Zhang and Dollar over three parts. In part one, a young, vibrant Tao is courted by poor but kind-hearted, coal miner Liangzi, and the brash, wealthy entrepreneur Zhang. Zhang eventually wins out, although Tao’s feeling for Laingzi remain. Zhang marries Tao and they have a son, whom Zhang names Dollar in light of his hope to become rich enough to move abroad.
In part two, several years have passed and Tao and Zhang have divorced but share custody of Dollar. Tao is wealthy, through her investments in gas stations, but she is not the happy, young girl of the past. She worries about: the declining health of her father, who eventually dies; and the increasing alienation she discovers with Dollar when he visits. Indeed, Dollar seems to have submitted to his father’s focus on making money and going abroad.
In part three, Dollar is now a teenager living with his father in Australia. There is no mention of Tao who is assumed to have been forgotten by both her son and husband. The relationship between Dollar and Zhang has also deteriorated as Zhang unendingly insists that Dollar assimilate into the local culture, go to college and make …show more content…
Both Tao and Zhao are completely committed to doing everything they can, to see that Dollar is successful; even if that means controlling all aspect of his life. We also see in the relationship between Tao, Zhang and Dollar, the Confucian influence of the importance of study and education. Tao, and especially Zhang, continually tell Dollar that he needs to study hard and go to college. Their belief is based on the Confucian idea that through education he can improve himself and improve his place in