Starring Pu Cun Xin, Zhu Xu, Jiang Wu. Directed by Zhang Yang. Da Ming (Pu Cun Xin) is a successful businessman who left his quiet neighbourhood in Beijing to make his fortune in thriving capitalist southern China. He receives a postcard from his mentally retarded brother Erming (Jiang Wu) that seems to indicate their father Master Liu (Zhu Xu) has died, and he takes the train back home. He finds his father very much alive, still running the old fashioned bathhouse he's run for many years, currently with the help of the sweet-natured Erming. While he's there anyway, he decides to stay a couple of days just to visit. In his father's bathhouse, everyone (male) is welcome and the community gathers here - older men, businessmen, neighbours. Some come to talk and gossip, some to exchange business ideas, some to get an old fashioned massage, some to conduct cricket fights. But all come to relax and socialize. Only planning to stay a short while, there is always something to keep Da Ming from leaving. As he stays longer, he begins to see that his father's bathhouse is a focal point of the local community, and that the community loves and looks up to Master Liu. Unfortunately, Master Liu is not in the best of health, and the local communist council is planning to tear down the neighbourhood in a few months to put up a shopping mall. But he discovers he's not in a real hurry to get back to his busy life. Shower begins with a businessman walking into an automated shower on a busy city street. Very modern, the man takes off his clothes which are wisked away on a conveyor belt, and a door opens for him to enter the shower like out of Star Trek. Water from all directions sprays the man, and brushes similar to those in a car wash brush him down from all sides. It is efficient, thorough and totally cold and impersonal. The film quickly moves to Master Liu's bathhouse and the contrast couldn't be more stark. A smiling and inviting Erming greets each man as he enters, and takes him to a bench, many of the men having their own regular bench near friends. Some customers receive massages and scrub downs, but all eventually end up in the baths to relax. The film shows how various events repeat in a ritualized way, illustrating the historical importance of ritual in Chinese life. Erming washes down the floor, puts a warm, moist towel on every bench the same way each day. Master Liu and Erming wash down the baths, and then jog and race through the park each evening, laughing and playing as they do it. As Da Ming arrives in Beijing, he is in a rush, a bit dismissive of the quaint old customs, going as far as buying his father an electronic foot and neck massager. Master Liu expresses resentment for Da Ming leaving and his lack of respect for his and Erming's livelihood. But as the film progresses, it subtly allows its characters to understand and accept one another, despite the differences in their lifestyles. The film is not trying to say that things shouldn't change - it knows things in our modern world inevitably change, but it laments the community that is often destroyed when progress occurs. Absent of excessive sentimentality or syrupy music, the film allows the viewer to make up his/her own mind about how what is being seen. The performances of the three leads makes the subtle approach work. The role of Erming is by far the showiest role, and Jiang Wu does an excellent job in conveying his good-nature and love of the bathhouse. His best moment is in his enthusiastic attention for the daily singing of a shy young man who can only sing in the shower. Zhu Xu's Master Liu is far more low-key, but he beautifully demonstrates his love for the men of his community, the pride in his work, and his love of his son Erming. His best moment is in encouraging a young capitalist to get a "real job", and drop his pie-in-the-sky, get-rich schemes. Pu Cun Xin is similarly low key, and quite good. The film sort of drifts along with little in the way of plot, but it's chief concern is illustrating the life and thoughts of its characters. As a contrast to Hollywood's higher volume fare, this Shower is well worth a visit. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page