BIG WORLD (小小的我) (NETFLIX) (2024)

SYNOPSIS: A young man with cerebral palsy tries to help his grandmother achieve her long-held stage dreams while mending family ties and discovering his own path.

MOVIE REVIEW:

After watching Big World, it becomes clear why Jackson Yee deserved to win Best Actor at both the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival and the 38th Golden Rooster Awards.

Yee plays Liu Chunhe, a young man living with Cerebral palsy. Despite his condition, Chunhe dreams of pursuing a college education and becoming a teacher. His mother, played by Jiang Qinqin, is hesitant about his ambitions, worried about the challenges he might face. Fortunately, Chunhe receives unwavering support from his free-spirited grandmother, portrayed by Diana Lin, who stands firmly behind every life decision he makes.

Strictly speaking, Big World does not follow a conventional narrative structure. Instead, it unfolds in a documentary-like style, which is hardly surprising given that director Lina Yang began her career as a documentary filmmaker. Even the cinematography by Piao Songri feels grounded and naturalistic, avoiding any stylistic flourishes that might distract from the story.

The film’s focus remains firmly on Liu Chunhe, using his experiences to highlight the needs and desires of someone living with cerebral palsy. While Chunhe’s physicality may differ from that of the average person, his ambitions are no less significant. He knows exactly what he wants—to become a qualified educator despite the protests of his overprotective mother. His determination to earn his own pocket money as a barista also reflects the unfair judgments often imposed by society, raising the question of whether people with disabilities are truly given the same opportunities as everyone else in the wider world.

The film also explores Chunhe’s budding romance with a beautiful young woman he meets in a park, played by Zhou Yutong. It raises a simple yet profound question: does someone with cerebral palsy deserve to experience love like anyone else? While certain elements of the story feel somewhat surface-level, it is still commendable that the filmmakers dare to explore such sensitive topics.

Chunhe’s relationship with his grandmother is one of the film’s most heartwarming highlights, though the movie occasionally spends a little too much time on her obsession with her singing troupe. There are also several heart-wrenching moments, including an intense shouting match between Chunhe and his mother, followed later by a deeply moving scene—one involving soft candy that is best left unspoiled.

Ultimately, Big World offers more than just Jackson Yee’s remarkable performance. It is an emotional drama that shines a light on the struggles faced by people living with cerebral palsy and, more broadly, individuals with disabilities. Although it is a Chinese production, the film speaks a universal language, one that resonates with audiences far beyond China.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee