The movie began with the 1976 earthquake in Tangshan. A distraught mother was left to choose between the lives of her daughter and son when a concrete slab fell on the both of them. Out of her distress, the mother chose to sacrifice her daughter for fear of losing both children. Her son was rescued, and her daughter was thought to be dead. Miraculously, she survived. Skipping forward, the movie ended with the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan. Both siblings went to Sichuan to lend their hands as volunteers, and were reunited after 32 years of separation.
Some Biblical themes came out very strongly in the movie. One of them was the theme of forgiveness. When the mother and daughter reunited after 32 years, the former cried out in agony asking, “Why haven’t you sought me out all these years?” The daughter could not bring herself to reply at first because she resented her mother for favouring her brother, for choosing to abandon her. She truly reconciled with her mother only after she realized that her mother had been living with the guilt of her impossible choice 32 years ago. Alas, God is wise. If she had forgiven her mother, they could have saved themselves from 32 years of bitterness and guilt. That’s easy for me to say. I’m neither her, nor Joseph’s brother. The daughter’s wails during the reconciliation process also reminded me of the elder son in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. “He is my brother. I should have been happy that he survived!”
I liked the silent, but understanding and loving foster father character very much too. But I shall not ruin the enjoyment of watching the movie any further. Catch the movie yourself to see more. God have mercy on the 240,000 souls who died in Tangshan.
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