Sadly,
China’s Uyghur population are probably second only to the Falun Dafa when it
comes to being demonized by the Party’s propaganda apparatus. The ethnic group,
largely based in the Northwest Xinjiang region happen to be Muslim, so they are
practically synonymous with terrorism in the state media. Of course, most
Uyghurs just want to raise their families and get by. Unfortunately for Isa and
his friends, the escalating Mandarin language requirements will make their
lives difficult in Wang Lina’s A First Farewell, which screens today at
the 2019 New York Asian Film Festival.
Since
his father and brother Musa must work tending the goats, Isa is forced to look
after his ailing mother, who has been on a steep decline after contracting
meningitis. Alas, he does not have much time to be a kid. Yet, he has picture
book-worthy friends in Kalbinur and her little brother, Alinaz. Of the trio,
Isa is probably the most proficient at Mandarin, but certainly not to an extent
that will impress his stern teachers.
Needless
to say, Isa has little time to study, but his father intends to rectify that.
After a long period of agonizing, he has finally resolved to place his wife in
a nursing home. However, both Isa and Musa bitterly resent the plan. The wider
community does not cotton much to it either, but they do not shoulder the
burden of her constant care.
First
Farewell is
an enormously empathetic portrait of a community under multiple stresses.
Farewells are a constant fact of life for them, because of the region’s stagnant
economy. Yet, despite announcing the theme in her title, Wang never belabors
the point. In fact, she displays a rather light touch when it comes to
addressing her themes. Nevertheless, when Kalbinur’s mother tells her life is about
learning to say goodbye, it rings with significance.
Isa
Yasan is terrific as his namesake, almost resembling a Uyghur version of the
kid in The Bicycle Thieves. He is wonderfully natural responding to Kalbinur
Rahmati and Alinaz Rahmati as their namesakes. Yet, the complicated and
touching rapport he develops with Musa Yasan (playing Brother Musa) leaves the
deepest impression.
First
Farewell is
a beautiful film to look at, thanks to Li Yong’s striking cinematography, which
perfectly captures the beauty and loneliness of the Xinjiang landscape. Still, the
film is sometimes too quiet for its own good. First Farewell is livelier
and more engaging than many a slow-cinema docu-hybrid, but it is cut from similar aesthetic cloth. Recommended for those who appreciate well-crafted but deliberately-paced
coming of age tales, A First Farewell screens tonight (7/11), as part of
NYAFF ’19.
