Bao: A Heartbreaking and Heartwarming Fairytale
Written by Zhiyun ZhaoPhotography by Tori Tiso I don't usually cry before a movie—but I did when I went to see The Incredibles 2. Bao, the Oscar-winning short that was played before the film, brought tears to my eyes because of its compelling storytelling and thought-provoking discussion of parent-child relationship.The short film tells the story of a Chinese-Canadian woman and a steamed bun that she makes. The steamed bun, or bao, comes alive, and the woman raises him as a child. However, as Bao grows up, he becomes rebellious and estranges from the woman. Eventually the audience realizes that her relationship with the steamed bun parallels the one with her actual son. What interests me is the Empty Nest syndrome, which refers to the lonely feeling that parents experience when their kids leave home, that is depicted in this animation. Growing up in China, I've heard a lot of discussion on this issue. As I was searching for the reviews of this short film online, I noticed that a lot of viewers from Asian immigrant families also claimed that they could relate to this film, and Domee Shi, the Chinese-Canadian director of Bao, said that the short film was inspired by her own relationship with her mother. It’s always fascinating to see how a filmmaker can use her own experience to create a film that resonates with and connects people around the world.I also love the creative way that this short film uses to convey its message. The title "Bao" has multiple meanings in Chinese. It could mean baby. It could mean steamed bun. It could also mean treasure. It's fascinating to see how the creator put all of these meanings together and shows the audience how the woman in the film reacts when her steamed bun, which is something she treasured as well as a metaphor for her son, decides to start his own life.Therefore, I was glad that an issue that is concerned by Asians around the world was brought to the big screen in such a creative way. This is definitely a short that's worth watching, so go see it if you haven't yet!