The Ferry

Tian Huai'en is a quiet and simple man. Most of his life is spent on the tiny boat he uses to ferry people back and forth across the Dasha river. It's his life work, though he won't accept a dime for doing it. In our fast-paced, money-driven society, it's a concept that seems unfathomable. Even his own son Chuanjie finds it ridiculous. After his mother died, he left his dad for the city to earn money and live a more modern life. When he gets word that Huai'en is sick, he returns home to find him in a fragile state. The question of who will take over the ferry looms. Over the course of a week, their frigid relationship goes through a remarkable transformation. As Chuanjie learns the reasons behind his father's selfless duty, he begins to see him in a more honorable light. Will their bonding experience lead him to carry the torch? THE FERRY is an absolutely beautiful film, both visually and in its powerful display of integrity and undying gratitude. (In Mandarin with subtitles) —E.F.