Reference
This film is about the transition of a new generation in the "passing of the baton." The film takes place in the rural mountains of China where a father has been delivering the mail for over twenty years. Due to his bothersome knees and being forced by the government to retire, he has decided that his son is the perfect candidate to takeover his mail route. The film opens with the the father sorting and packing the mail into his satchel while his son looks on all the while offering reminders about each of the deliveries.
Early the next morning, the son sets out on his first trek, after-all, how hard can it really be? His father's dog always accompanied him on his route but on this day he stays back with the father, even with much cajoling the dog will not leave his side. So, the father embarks on his son's first route with him along with their canine sidekick. They rarely speak unless it involves business or a discussion on how and where to cross the water safely.
A new generation of thinking and problem solving irritates the father when he tires of the son listening to his radio instead of listening and embracing nature along the way. The son doesn't understand why they don't take the bus to their destinations, not realizing how remote and far back they will be in the mountains, where no bus would ever be able to go.
Lessons learned along the way could never have been taught at home. Although the son has felt orphaned by his father all his life because he was away for so long and never spent time with him, the time they are spending together now, is the longest they have ever been together. The son soon realizes the importance of his father's work. Not only does he deliver the mail, but he takes time to talk, listens to the people, makes them feel important and is their connection to the outside world. They are warmly welcomed and become part of each village they visit joining in on wedding celebrations, festivities and family meals.
One example is when his father turns on a different path and the son reminds him that their dog is leading them straight ahead. But, there was a special letter to be delivered that day. The letter was for a woman who was blind and looked forward to hearing from her grandson who was away in the army. She asks the father to read the letter and then he hands it to his son to finish creating the letter as he reads it.
This is a simple film with the message of tradition, family and coming of age to understand that things are usually more complicated than is visible to the naked eye. Watching this father-son relationship evolve through the film as they experience the difficult and strenuous trek through the mountains to come to the aid of many village people, and put a smile on their faces keeps the film grounded with a simple message.
