Search - Ocean Heaven on DVD

Belinda S. (niara) from NEW YORK, NY
Reviewed on 5/25/2014...

Without question, one of the most poignant, brilliant films I will see this year.

I guess my perspective is unique in that I have seen few films featuring international martial arts scholar Jet Li. He takes on a role of such beauty and simplicity, it is astonishing. He plays Wang, father to Dafu, who is autistic. Wang has been diagnosed with end-stage liver cancer. Dafu's mother died when he was seven. Wang is Dafu's only caregiver, in every sense of the word. It raises pivotal questions: who will care for the children with disabilities when their parents die? What responsibility does the community, city and state have for those with disabilities? Whose child is this, anyway?

We watch Wang carefully, delicately, raise his son. Dafu, played by Zhang Wen, gives an astonishing performance. Slow and delicate, at times almost difficult to watch, but a testament of the power of love, patience, community and family.