The movie "Revisit", nominated for six awards at the Little Venice Film Festival in London, is a dramatic narrative that touches the hearts of its audience with a warm and moving story.
The film’s Chinese title "Fortune Tower" is taken from the name of the building where Oli, the main character, was raised under the care of her grandmother. The story begins with Oli’s return from Beijing—where she has been pursuing a career in filmmaking—to visit her grandmother, who has been hospitalized after a minor stroke. Oli soon finds herself caught in a dilemma: whether to remain in Macau to care for her grandmother or to continue her film studies in Beijing.
The film keeps the audience anxiously engaged with Oli’s struggles between her aspirations and her responsibilities toward the elderly woman, whose declining health constantly causes difficulties for those around her. At times, even Oli feels challenged by her grandmother’s fastidiousness, yet these moments often bring back memories of her childhood, when it was she who caused trouble for her grandmother. In this way, the film provokes reflection on the problem of aging, reminding viewers that the elderly—now frail and burdensome—once played vital roles in our growth and development.
The involvement of Oli’s other family members also highlights that life is not solely about lofty ideals. We may criticize her parents for their indifference to Grandma’s needs and for harboring greedy desires regarding her savings. Yet their actions may seem understandable to many when faced with life’s inevitable obstacles. In contrast to this unpleasant reality, Oli’s sincere and devoted love for her grandmother becomes all the more precious.
The film also raises profound thoughts about life and death. The grandmother’s lament over her husband’s early passing reveals her fear of loneliness and mortality. Yet the movie is not intended to be sorrowful. Flashbacks of her youthful romance show that everyone has had their prime, and it is natural to prepare for the final chapter of a life well lived.
Another gentle touch of romance appears in the brief portrayal of Oli’s friend, the one to whom she entrusts her deepest feelings. He perceives her sorrow at the withering of the plant she has relied upon for growth. The scene of the young couple cheerfully conversing with the old grandmother feels uplifting. It implies another of the film’s strongest messages: the genuine support of friends can make even the hardest trials easier to bear.
I appreciate the positive message the movie conveys. It draws attention to the global challenge of an aging population. Oli’s story illustrates the importance of parental support for young people’s aspirations and offers encouragement to youth with ideals to persevere.
The movie emerges as a fresh breath in the film industry, distinguished by its purity and innocence that set it apart from commercial trends.
