Together (He ni zai yi qi)

Released 2002
Cast: Tang Yun, Liu Peigi, Chen Hong, Wang Zhiwen, Chen Kiage
Directed by Chen Kiage

The story revolves around a 13-year old prodigy named Xiaochun (Tang Yun), who plays the violin with a passion and technical proficiency that few adult masters can match. Accompanied by his peasant father, Liu Cheng (Liu Peigi), Xiaochun comes to Beijing to further his opportunities with his instrument. While his father works long hours, Xiaochun earns a little extra by playing music for an eccentric young woman, Lili (Chen Hong), who lives nearby. Meanwhile, due in large part to the persistence of his father, he becomes the pupil of Professor Jiang (Wang Zhiwen), a teacher who spends as much time wallowing in his own sorrow as instructing Xiaochun. Eventually, Liu recognizes that for his son to advance, he must have a more prominent teacher, so he secures the interest of Professor Yu (Chen Kiage), who accepts only the best and often takes them into the spotlight.

Together is in many ways about the price of being a prodigy. Everyone desires something from Xiaochun, even though many of those close to him genuinely care about his well being. His father wants him to succeed at any price so that he can vicariously experience the thrill of standing on stage in front of enraptured crowds. Lili treats Xiaochun as a personal servant until circumstances force her to make a sacrifice. Professor Jiang sees in his pupil a chance to expiate past sins. And Professor Yu views Xiaochun as a can't-miss prospect whose career he can guide. For his part, Xiaochun must wade through the falseness surrounding him to find what's genuine, and determine what he really wants. Is it to play the violin, even at the cost of his soul?

Summary by James Berardinelli

This movie is supposed to be a melodrama, but I found it strangely unemotional. The story managed to keep my interest, but that was because it gave me a small glimpse into modern China. The music also kept me interested, but it wasn't as captivating as I expected. There were a couple of scenes where the music soared, but several were rather flat. Maybe it's because I prefer soulful performances to rapid scales that show how technically adroit a player is. The duet between Liu (Tang Yun) and his teacher and the performance with the symphony were gorgeous, but the rest sounded like a bumblebee racing up and down the scales. A little of that goes a long way. The other major problem was Tang Yun in the lead role. He's an amazing musician, but his acting is as stiff and wooden as his violin. --Bill Alward, December 17, 2003