Movie assignment: "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress"

I have taught international students for 10 years in Gallaudet University. Young adults, from various cultures, shared their selections of foreign films. They could build bridges with their universal human experience. Based on this experience, I decided to explore an alternative movie selection for adolescents.

“Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” is a foreign movie based on Dai Sijie’s experience in Maoist China during the early 70’s. Two teenage best friends, victimized by China’s cultural revolution, were sent to a remote village for their re-education. They were captivated with a local female beauty. Although these Chinese characters may appear exotic compared to typical American characters in other films, the movie’s aesthetic appeal of their youth and sublime beauty still can impress any adolescents, regardless of their cultural backgrounds.

Practically almost all adult movies have, at least, a brief romantic moment because everyone needs some love. In an adolescent movie, love is a more alluring emotion due to its innocence. The serene, natural and mountainous backdrop in “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” enhances the romantic mood of adolescents falling in love. Adolescents can relate to these characters’ mysterious pangs of emotions, in which they wonder whether these feelings consist of true love.

Little Seamstress, the daughter of the tailor, has enjoyed her childlike bliss in the mountains since her birth. The city boys decided to cure her ignorance by teaching her how to read literary selections, which were forbidden in China. Her newfound joy of reading created a dynamic mix of boys’ love for her and their shared love of literature. Little Seamstress matured as a promising lady who sought to broaden her horizons. The boys were surprised when she wanted leave them behind, traveling on her own.

Adolescents who enjoy reading can reflect on Nabokov’s perspective that “readers were born free and ought to remain free.” Little Seamstress freed herself from the communist ideology after she unfolded herself a reader, discovering her inherent nature of intellectual freedom.

Many adolescents would probably prefer more exciting movies, such as “New Moon”, to suit their movie-going pleasure. However, some of them can try watching “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” and enjoy their meaningful connections with the youthful characters.