Shower Movie Review

Shower was a very interesting film centered in a bath house. The bath house is owned by Old Liu and his son, Erming. The film begins with Old Liu’s eldest son, Darming, showering in a very modern looking shower where all he has to do is go in while he is washed and rinsed, much like you would do in a car wash. Darming lives in the city but decides to visit the bath house after receiving a picture sent by his brother Erming. Because of the picture, he thinks his father passed away, which is why he decides to go.

Erming is mentally challenged and helps his father with running the bath house. We see what Erming and his father do on a day to day basis running the bath house, as well as the interaction with the customers, who frequent the place regularly and are acquainted with Old Liu and Erming. Upon arriving, Darming refuses to take a bath, as he is more accustomed to taking showers. He also does not participate in the daily routines of running the bath house. We see the evidence of filial piety in this film with Darming.

When Darming first arrives, we see that he is clearly not a filial son. He only went to the bath house because he believed his father was dead. Later in the film, we find out that he is actually married but his wife has never met his father or brother, nor does she know that his brother is mentally challenged. I think this is a very important issue in the film. Darming had obviously not visited his father and brother in a very long time, and had no interest in doing so as he did not care to bring his father and brother to his wedding.

As the film progresses, Darming starts to care more about his father and brother. We see him changing into becoming a more filial son and caring for his father and brother. On one day when his father gets sick, Darming cares for him and decides to cover for him running the bath house. This was an evident change in him since he arrived. On another occasion however, Darming goes out to buy his ticket back to the city. Erming decides to go with him and Darming takes him to buy the ticket. When Darming is buying the ticket, Erming goes out of the building distracted by some people outside. Darming notices too late that Erming is gone and tries to find him. He arrived back to the bath house but Erming was nowhere to be seen. His father then goes out to try to find Erming, Darming tries to follow but his father is upset and tells Darming that he already lost a son and could not lose another. This is referring to Darming, how since he left to the city it has been as though Old Liu lost his eldest son.

After this incident, Darming started to change more and more and started to care for his father and brother. He starts to do more things with his father and brother, as well as tell his father that he will visit them more often when he goes back and that he will bring his wife to meet them. However, one day after the bath house is closed, his father suddenly died while