‘Brief History Of A Family Review: Suspenseful Chinese Drama Puts A Twist On The Family Infiltrator Plot
Chinese writer-director Jianjie Lin's tense drama A Brief History of a Family , elevated by its consistent visual ingenuity, at first appears to be a true case of an insidious intruder wreaking havoc on an unsuspecting family. But the closer you look, the more it becomes a wish-fulfillment story for everyone involved. Comparisons to Saltburn, The Killing of a Sacred Deer or The Talented Mr Ripley will no doubt abound, but what Lean offers is far more subtle, with a serious tone and no interest in building a big plot, despite the unexpected ending.
Fifteen-year-old Yang Shuo (Xilong Sun) was hit by a basketball while shooting and injured his leg. To apologize, the guilty Tu Wei, a classmate from a wealthy family, invited Shuo to play video games and stay for dinner. Sir. and Mrs. Tu replied, surprised by Shuo's calm demeanor and desire to excel in his studies, a trait their privileged son lacked, as his only profession was fencing. Shuo reveals that his mother died in childbirth and that his alcoholic father physically abused him. Visible bruises corroborated his statement and immediately attracted the sympathy of his parents. Their trust is not difficult to earn. Only Shuo showed interest in the woman. Tu's story about his journey and Mr. Tu's love for classical music.
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Lin expects that the audience's first instinct might be to question the sincerity of Shuo's actions, that he orchestrated everything to play the victim and take advantage of the resources the Tu clan had to offer. But aside from winning over the elders, there was no obvious sign that Shuo Wei was being purposely kicked out or harmed to replace him. Perhaps this is the brilliance of the whole act. However, this does not prevent the biological child of the family from feeling neglected. The mystery of his plan depends on how Xilong Shuo plays: an impregnable fortress, difficult to read, calmly composed when needed and always alert.
Shu's meticulous attention to detail of her lover, which she essentially adopted, is reflected in the way some shots are rendered in perfectly circular frames, implying that the Tu family is being examined as if under a microscope. Sir. You work for a medical equipment company. In this very elegant and understated film, Mr. Tu's reference to the enzymes entering the cells - a vivid illustration of how Shuo gained access to his home - seems the most elegant statement, until the end of the story, the person who evokes pity. and sympathy becomes someone else. .
There are many other examples of thematically significant imagery throughout the film, such as the way cinematographer Jiahao Zhang captures the clinical, gray and elegant symmetry of modern buildings, Shuo's desired symbol of progress and stability. There is a literal duel between two teenagers using umbrellas as weapons, as well as a less violent fight in the bedroom eventually occupied by the two boys. Shuo reads, but Wei wants to sleep and turns off the lights. The light switches turn on and off in different places, as the screen goes from complete darkness to more aggressive dimming.
But the Tu couple has not felt a connection for a long time. They interpret Shuo's arrival as an opportunity to start over. When the perfect child has moved into the future, they no longer need to make Wei a model student who dreams of attending an Ivy League school in the United States. But is this feeling fair to Wei, their biological son, because they can't accept him for who he is? When tragedy strikes Shuo, Wei awkwardly comforts his brother-turned-friend and declares that his dream of freedom has come true. On the other hand, Wei's childhood dream was to get his parents out of the business and pursue his passion for fencing. However, will Wei be happy when her wish also comes true?
Unlike other films where a young man breaks into the family home with ulterior motives, A Brief History of the Family argues that robbery is not the only reason criminals seek career advancement or revenge. They only allow Shuo to become so attached to their lives. There is no threat to them. For a while the relationship was mutually beneficial. And the sense that the roles of exploiter and exploiter can easily be reversed in a fancy house is what makes Lin's debut so exciting.
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