POSTMEN IN THE MOUNTAINS — *** 1/2 — Ye Liu, Rujun Ten; in Mandarin, with English subtitles; not rated but probable PG (profanity).
The simplicity of "Postmen in the Mountains" is much of the film's charm. There are no gimmicky storytelling devices or mind-blowing plot twists here, no digital special effects or overblown action sequences; just a concentration on characters and their relationships.
To some, that may make this 1999 China-Singapore co-production seem rather quaint. But it actually makes the film a throwback to earlier days when such storytelling was more prevalent, more fashionable, making the film kin to such other low-key Asian charmers as "Not One Less" and "The Road Home," which were also made the same year and which also exhibit some of the characteristics.
However, unlike those two films, it's taken five years for this gentle and effective drama to finally see the light of day outside of Asia. And that's a real shame, because it deserves to be seen by those audiences looking for something a little more wholesome and positive compared to what most films today provide.
No names are ever given for the movie's two main characters — a twentysomething son (Ye Liu) and his father (Rujun Ten), a civil servant who's being forced to retire due to health concerns.
So the father is training his son to take over his job, which entails delivering the mail to rural villages throughout the mountain passes in Hunan province. However, he's a bit of a perfectionist and insists on accompanying his son on his first three-day delivery trip. (He also takes along his faithful canine companion to keep them on track.)
The veteran postman also sees this as an opportunity to reach out to his son, who has been distant lately. And during the trek, the son begins to understand just how many sacrifices his father has made for the family, as well as the positive effect he has had on the villagers he serves.
Admittedly, the pacing might seem a bit self-indulgent and might make some viewers feel the film is too slow for their liking. But like the characters, the movie is in no rush to get where it's going, which suits the material perfectly.
That also allows the actors to find room and establish a believable relationship between their characters. And it allows director Jianqi Huo to sneak in shots of the beautiful Chinese landscapes — which alone are worth the price of admission.
"Postmen in the Mountains" is not rated but would probably receive a PG for some scattered use of profanity. Running time: 93 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com