Piano in a Factory, a film directed by Zhang Meng, tells the story of a father’s love for his daughter. Even as state-run industry begins to waver, the economic liberalization is evidently far from reaching the city that the film takes place. Chen Guilin (Wang Qianyuan) plays the accordion in a local band with a few of his close friends, all of whom are laid- off steelworkers. His wife returns to him after years, abandoning him for another man who sells fake medicine. But being part of the working class in an industrial city, she is pretty well off. She demands a divorce, and the full responsibility of their daughter, Xiao Yuan. Guilin is more than happy to leave his wife, but his daughter he cannot let go of. Xiao Yuan shares his love for music, as it was him who had initially developed it. However, Xiao Yuan is, in some ways, similar to her mother. She is willing to stay with either her mother, or father- just whoever will provide her a piano.
Guilin, although he has a poor income, is always willing to pay the tuition for her piano lessons. Even with a cruel ex-wife, a mentally deteriorating father and difficulties meeting basic needs, he is desperate to hold onto his daughter. He even tries to paint keys onto a wooden board and make her believe it makes beautiful sounds- to the heart. But he can see she is still not happy. Guilin resorts to begging- begging his relatives and friends for money. But they’ve all got their own lives to worry about. Then he attempts to steal a piano from a school but to no avail.
Finally, he decides to start from scratch by building his own. But it’s not merely his desire to stay with his daughter that prompts this idea, it’s his desire to see her fulfill her dreams. He recruits his most loyal friends, and his girlfriend, Shu Xian (Qin Hailu), the singer in his band. A piano comprises of many components: the case, soundboard, ribs, bridges, cast iron plate, strings and of course the keys. But it’s amazing to see that the completion of a piano all initially began with a single idea of a loving father. But Shu Xian is doubtful; Xiao Yuan will stay with her mother even if Guilin gives her a piano. And things only get worse from here. Guilin, in his undying pursuit of the piano project, founds out that Shu Xian is being unfaithful and that his father passes away. But even when things seem hopeless, Guilin finishes the piano and offers it as a last piece of his love for Xiao Yuan.
The film delivers the importance of love and dreams. There’s so much that one can achieve out of love for another. It also addresses the importance of liberating one’s thinking in order to liberate oneself. Even though I liked the movie, I would rate it three pianos out of five.
Check out the trailer.
[youtube 6QjQGBj08vM]Random fact: The two leads, Qin Hailu and Wang Qianyuan, were not paid for this film. Instead, they did it to help fulfill Zhang’s dream of finishing it.
Piano in a Factory was only one of the many films playing at this year’s Calgary International Film Festival. It runs until October 2nd, so make sure you check out some of the films!
For more information, click here.