This Hong Kong movie has a heartwrenching story on mental health.the tear jerker had me sobbing with swollen eyes when i came out.
Like the Malaysian movie Raintown,it portrays the devastating impact of a control freak Asian father who dictates the lives of his children and wife.Both male protagonists are typical Asian males who are very conscious of their face in the community and how their children are his trophys to show off his success at bringing up kids who are in the big 4 professions of doctors,accountants,lawyers or engineers.Its also implicit in Indian society in which the groom can command a high dowry from the brides family if he comes from the big 4 professions.
The way the successful self made lawyer father who is a community leader abuses his wife and eldest son is a often swept under the carpet sordid tale that people are ashamed to let others know
But such childhood trauma will ruin the lives of the adult children as in Raintown in which the son who is a medical intern in a hospital becomes a drug user to overcome his depression and the way the protagonist in the Hong Kong movie has a strained relationship with his own father and wife which eventually cause her to divorce him.so emotional abuse eats away at his sense of happiness and self worth.
As an educator myself,the hong kong movie resonates in me.I felt it was a let down for my parents who were disappointed when i switched from being a Science student to an Arts student as i loved English literature
Nowadays parents reprimand their kids by warning them if you dont study hard,you will end up as a teacher and not working in Mcdonalds or 711 as Ronald Cheng the father warns his son.
But i had wonderful teachers who praise effort and not just results.Such inspirational role models of teaching who gave us life lessons,not just book knowledge.i still remember my English teachers comments on my essay i wrote.excellent work.you deserve a bouquet of flowers.such positivity drove me to do my best and be as caring and sympathetic a teacher as Miss Lopez.ive seen students having mental health issues due to exam pressure and living up to parental expectation.so better for students to thrive in a happy and healthy environment than to self harm or be suicidal.
Time still turns the pages is a very introverted movie like a stream of consciousness in which the diary entries unfold the inner thoughts of the underdog.
the way the protagonist walks up the circular staircase shows his progress in the journey from the past to the present.the book of life is brief and once a page is turned,all but love is dead.so goes the lyrics of Don Mc Cleans song And I love you so
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